Surmounting the unique challenges in health disparities education: a multi-institution qualitative study.
BACKGROUND
The National Consortium for Multicultural Education for Health Professionals (Consortium) comprises educators representing 18 US medical schools, funded by the National Institutes of Health. Collective lessons learned from curriculum implementation by principal investigators (PIs) have the potential to guide similar educational endeavors.


OBJECTIVE
Describe Consortium PI's self-reported challenges with curricular development, solutions and their new curricular products.


METHODS
Information was collected from PIs over 2 months using a 53-question structured three-part questionnaire. The questionnaire addressed PI demographics, curriculum implementation challenges and solutions, and newly created curricular products. Study participants were 18 Consortium PIs. Descriptive analysis was used for quantitative data. Narrative responses were analyzed and interpreted using qualitative thematic coding.


RESULTS
Response rate was 100%. Common barriers and challenges identified by PIs were: finding administrative and leadership support, sustaining the momentum, continued funding, finding curricular space, accessing and engaging communities, and lack of education research methodology skills. Solutions identified included engaging stakeholders, project-sharing across schools, advocacy and active participation in committees and community, and seeking sustainable funding. All Consortium PIs reported new curricular products and extensive dissemination efforts outside their own institutions.


CONCLUSIONS
The Consortium model has added benefits for curricular innovation and dissemination for cultural competence education to address health disparities. Lessons learned may be applicable to other educational innovation efforts.
Carter-Pokras
Olivia
O
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Maryland College Park School of Public Health, College Park, MD 20742, USA. opokras@umd.edu
Bereknyei
Sylvia
S
Lie
Desiree
D
Braddock
Clarence H
CH
D054521:Cultural Competency / Q000193:education*; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires