Scheduled for Research Coordinating Board Oral Presentations III, Friday, April 28, 2006, 8:45 AM - 10:00 AM, Convention Center: 150DEF


Cultural Competence Development in Health Education Professional Preparation Programs

Raffy R. Luquis, Penn State Capital College, Middletown, PA, Miguel Perez, California State University at Fresno, Fresno, CA and Kathleen J. Young, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, CA

To date few studies have been conducted to assess the preparation of health educators in the area of cultural competence. The purpose of this study was to assess the current efforts and opportunities offered by health education professional preparation programs to prepare health educators in the area of cultural competence. The study participants were selected from the AAHE “Directory of Institutions: Offering Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Programs in Health Education”. All participants received a mail package containing the instrument, a cover letter, and a business reply envelope. The survey requested information regarding the number of courses in each program with a focus in cultural competency, percentage of core courses that address cultural competence, the content and skills cover in such courses. The survey asked the level of commitment, knowledge, comfort of faculty members and level of commitment of the students in this area, and level of involvement of faculty members with diverse groups. A second and third follow-up mailings were sent to non-respondents after weeks seven and fifteen of the initial mailing. One hundred and fifty seven participants returned a completed survey for a 55% response rate. One hundred and twenty four participants (79%) indicated that their institutions offer a degree in health education. Results of the study indicated that less than one-third of the programs offer a course entirely devoted to cultural competency. Most respondents (88%) indicated that their programs address cultural competency through their core courses. The majority of the programs (87%) reported that they referred students to other department within their institution for courses dealing with cultural competency. Finally, the majority of participants (80%) reported that they do not provide cultural/diversity training or education programs for their faculty members. The majority of the respondent indicated that “relationship between health and culture” and “relationship between health and social issues” were two content areas covered in their courses. Most participants indicated that their course prepare their students to be able to “design culturally appropriate health education and health promotion program for diverse ethnic/racial communities.” Over seventy percent of the chairs or program coordinators reported that the faculty members in their department were committed to cultural competency and were comfortable in addressing this topic. Findings from this survey support the need for cultural competency required courses for students, cultural competency training for faculty members, and for discipline-specific standards for cultural competency among health educators.

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