title: Developing cultural competence through self-reflection in interprofessional education: Findings from an Australian university.
abstract: Interprofessional education and cultural competence are both necessary for health professionals working in interprofessional teams serving diverse populations. Using a pre-post-survey case series design, this study evaluates a novel learning activity designed to encourage self-reflection and cultural competence in an Australian interprofessional education context. Undergraduate health professional students in a large subject viewed three 7-15 minute videos featuring interviews with persons of a minority cultural, linguistic, or sexual group who were living with a disability or managing a health condition. Immediately afterwards, students in interprofessional groups completed a structured activity designed to promote interprofessional and cultural reflection. A localised version of a validated scale measured cultural competence before and after the learning activity. Results suggest the value of video-based learning activities based on real-life examples for improving cultural competence. Despite initially rating themselves highly, 64% of students (n = 273) improved their overall cultural competence, though only by M = 0.13, SD = 0.08, of a 5-point rating-scale interval. A nuanced approach to interpreting results is warranted; even slight increases may indicate improved cultural competence. Suggestions for improving the effectiveness of video-based cultural competence learning activities, based on qualitative findings, are provided. Overall the findings attest to the merit of group discussion in cultural competence learning activities in interprofessional education settings. However, the inclusion of group discussions within such learning activities should hinge on group dynamics.
authors.affiliation: a School of Social Science, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences , University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland , Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.affiliation: b School of Science and Health , University of Western Sydney , Penrith , New South Wales , Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bidewell
authors.affiliation: b School of Science and Health , University of Western Sydney , Penrith , New South Wales , Australia.
authors.forename: Tinashe
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dune
authors.affiliation: b School of Science and Health , University of Western Sydney , Penrith , New South Wales , Australia.
authors.forename: Nkosi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lessey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D054521:Cultural Competency / Q000193:education*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cultural competence; cultural diversity; interprofessional education; self-reflection