Beyond knowledge, toward linguistic competency: an experiential curriculum.
OBJECTIVE
Training is essential for future health care providers to effectively communicate with limited English proficient (LEP) patients during interpreted encounters. Our aim is to describe an innovative skill-based medical school linguistic competency curriculum and its impact on knowledge and skills.


METHODS
At Stanford University School of Medicine, we incorporated a linguistic competency curriculum into a 2-year Practice of Medicine preclinical doctoring course and pediatrics clerkship over three cohorts.


METHODS
First year students participated in extensive interpreter-related training including: a knowledge-based online module, interactive role-play exercises, and didactic skill-building sessions. Students in the pediatrics clerkship participated in interpreted training exercises with facilitated feedback.


RESULTS
Knowledge and skills were evaluated in the first and fourth years. First year students' knowledge scores increased (pre-test = 0.62, post-test = 0.89, P < 0.001), and they demonstrated good skill attainment during an end-year performance assessment. One cohort of students participated in the entire curriculum and maintained performance into the fourth year.


CONCLUSIONS
Our curriculum increased knowledge and led to skill attainment, each of which showed good durability for a cohort of students evaluated 3 years later. With a growing LEP population, these skills are essential to foster in future health care providers to effectively communicate with LEP patients and reduce health disparities.
Bereknyei
Sylvia
S
Medical Education, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Nevins
Andrew
A
Schillinger
Erika
E
Garcia
Ronald D
RD
Elizabeth Stuart
A
A
Braddock
Clarence H
CH
D002983:Clinical Competence; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008037:Linguistics / Q000193:education*; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods*