Hey everybody,

This is an article that I've always thought was interesting. The reported findings are alarming, yet very relevant to what we're trying to train ourselves to do. I've written a quick snippet just to whet your appetites, so that you may go on to the link to read it for yourself: http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/294/9/1058?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=residents%27+preparedness&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT

Without a question, current residents are required to face difficulties arising from cross-cultural differences. JAMA reports in a survey taken of residents that 96% do acknowledge that it was very important to address cultural components when giving care, while only 8% answered that they were not prepared to care for diverse cultures. Interestingly, when asked about addressing specific aspects of cross-cultural care, the following results arose: 25% reported that they were not ready to care for someone who firmly believed in something other than Western Medicine, 25% reported that they were not ready to care for new immigrants, and 20% were not ready to care for patients with strong religious beliefs. The discrepancy between these two sets of numbers (8% and 25%) points towards the simple fact that some residents are not even able to pinpoint exactly what entails “cross-cultural care”. This gap in the type of knowledge required in these specific settings may arise from a plethora of situations, ranging from a lack of focused cultural component in the medical school curriculum, to a lack of a mentor who possesses a strong understanding of such issues, to even the failure of the school or hospital administration to believe in the importance of said issues.

Chao!

hubert