Open AccessA Prescription for Cultural Competence in Medical Education
Author(s) -
Kripalani Sunil,
BusseyJones Jada,
Katz Marra G.,
Genao Inginia
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of general internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.746
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 1525-1497
pISSN - 0884-8734
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00557.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cultural competence , medical prescription , competence (human resources) , multiculturalism , medical education , cultural diversity , nursing , family medicine , pedagogy , psychology , social psychology , sociology , anthropology
Cultural competence programs have proliferated in U.S. medical schools in response to increasing national diversity, as well as mandates from accrediting bodies. Although such training programs share common goals of improving physician‐patient communication and reducing health disparities, they often differ in their content, emphasis, setting, and duration. Moreover, training in cross‐cultural medicine may be absent from students' clinical rotations, when it might be most relevant and memorable. In this article, the authors recommend a number of elements to strengthen cultural competency education in medical schools. This “prescription for cultural competence” is intended to promote an active and integrated approach to multicultural issues throughout medical school training.