Evaluating a lecture on cultural competence in the medical school preclinical curriculum.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The authors aim to evaluate the effectiveness of a presentation designed to increase cultural competence. METHODS: A measure was developed to evaluate the attainment of knowledge and attitude objectives by first-year medical students who watched a presentation on the effect of culture on the doctor-patient relationship and effective methods of interpretation for non-English-speaking patients. The test was administered before and after the presentation and data were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects regression model. RESULTS: Both knowledge and attitudes improved over the course of the lecture. CONCLUSIONS: Those who give individual presentations in multiple instructor medical school courses should supplement their course evaluations with lecture-specific surveys targeted to their specific learning objectives for knowledge and attitudes.