title: Global Longitudinal Pathway: has medical education curriculum influenced medical students' skills and attitudes toward culturally diverse populations?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Pathway represents a longitudinal program for medical students, consisting of both domestic and international experiences with poor populations. A previous study reported no significant attitudinal changes toward the medically indigent between Pathway and non-Pathway students.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate and differentiate the skills and attitudes of Pathway and non-Pathway students in working with culturally diverse populations by conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Selected items from a cultural assessment were analyzed using independent t-tests and a proportional analysis using approximation of the binomial distribution. In addition, a qualitative assessment of non-Pathway and Pathway students was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant difference was found at the end of Years 2, 3, and 4 regarding student confidence ratings, and qualitative results had similar findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clear and distinct differences between the two studied groups were found indicating the root of this increased confidence may have developed due to exposure to the Pathway program.
authors: Office of Education Affairs, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655-0002, USA. Mary.Zanetti@umassmed.edu
authors: Mary L
authors: ML
authors: Zanetti
authors: Michael A
authors: MA
authors: Godkin
authors: Joshua P
authors: JP
authors: Twomey
authors: Michele P
authors: MP
authors: Pugnaire
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D002983:Clinical Competence; D054521:Cultural Competency; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts