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

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.