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.

A systematic review of mental health care workers' constructions about culturally and linguistically diverse people

“…Being a minority can also apply to indigenous populations, like those in countries where the colonisers never left. Minority populations are sometimes characterised as culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD)–a term intended to acknowledge those who identify as being of a different cultural, ethnic, religious, linguistic and/or racial background than the dominant group in a particular country [ 2 ]. The term CALD is acknowledged to be problematic and its use widely debated.…”

“…As such, mental health systems and practitioners often demonstrate resistance to incorporating alternative constructions of health and wellbeing into service provision [ 11 , 12 ]. To circumvent negative outcomes researchers advocate for increased cultural competency [ 2 ].…”

“…Building health care workers’ abilities to become self-aware and to reflect on their constructions about others is an important aspect of cultural competency training [ 2 ]. The primary goal of this training is to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes of clients by improving the practitioner-client therapeutic alliance.…”

“…The primary goal of this training is to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes of clients by improving the practitioner-client therapeutic alliance. Effective engagement in cultural competency is designed to promote the development and maintenance of a positive therapeutic alliance between practitioners and their clients [ 2 ].…”

The built environment and sexual and reproductive health

“…11,30 We are not aware of any similar evidence within the Australian context but the previously mentioned research findings are thought-provoking given the ongoing reconnection between urban planners and public health researchers in Australia. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] The nexus between built and social environments, as proposed by Wilson and re-applied by Cohen and colleagues with respect to sexual and reproductive health, has plausibility, given the evidence from studies focussing on the influence of built environment on other behaviours like physical activity and diet. Could a renewed interest in promoting health (which we assume includes the prevention of physical deterioration) by producing more so-called 'liveable' neighbourhood built environments be a new lever for narrowing inequities in sexual and reproductive health?…”