Sexual health competence of international medical graduate psychiatric residents in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
Currently in the United States, more than one in three psychiatric residents are international medical graduates (IMGs). In light of forecasts of physician shortages, this proportion is likely to continue growing. Although central to psychiatric care, sexual health competence levels of IMGs may be lower than those of U.S. graduates.


METHODS
The authors conducted a nonsystematic review of the literature and online data to establish the learning needs of IMGs in this area.


RESULTS
Data on five areas are summarized: demographic and sociocultural data of IMGs in the United States; the need for sexual medicine competence for practicing psychiatrists; how sexual health is currently taught in foreign medical schools; attitudes toward sexuality and sexual problems among physicians and patients of different cultures; and the management of sexual issues, including sexual boundaries, by IMGs.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors found evidence suggesting that IMGs from areas most culturally dissimilar to the United States are likely to benefit from sexual medicine curricula in the context of cultural competence training. The diversity and resilience of IMGs are emphasized. Implications for immediate training and future research are outlined.
Sciolla
Andres
A
University of California, San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, 9500 Gilman Drive, #9116-A, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. asciolla@ucsd.edu
Ziajko
Lauretta A
LA
Salguero
Mario L
ML
D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D005550:Foreign Medical Graduates / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014481:United States