Cross-cultural Communication for Health Professional Students

TitleCross-cultural Communication for Health Professional Students
Faculty/College/UnitUBC Health
StatusCompleted
Duration2 Year
Initiation04/01/2002
Completion03/31/2005
Funding Details
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2002/2003
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorAngela Towle
Year 1: Funded Amount50,000
Year 1: Team Members

Angela Towle, Director, MD Undergraduate Program, Health Care Communications, College of Health Disciplines
Simon Albon, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Lesley Bainbridge, Professor / Head, Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine / Chair, Interprofessional Education Committee
William Godolphin, Professor, Pathology and Lab Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
Rosemin Kassam, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Sharon Salloum, Director, Clinical Skills and Communication Skills, Faculty of Medicine

Year 1: Summary

Objective: To develop a model program to address three generic cross cultural communication challenges in health care to be incorporated into existing curricula in health professions programs. The model will be developed with input from three different ethnic groups (Aboriginal, Chinese, Muslim) with the expectation that students will learn approaches and tools applicable to a wider range of cultures.

Rationale: Current communication skills training in health professions programs at UBC does not adequately address the cultural diversity of the province. Students are taught that it is important to deliver culturally sensitive health care but practical communication skills training and assessment is focused almost exclusively on interactions with Caucasian English-speaking patients/clients.

Year 2: Project YearYear 2
Year 2: Funding Year2004/2005
Year 2: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 2: Principal InvestigatorAngela Towle
Year 2: Funded Amount35,000
Year 2: Team Members

Angela Towle, Health Care Communication, College of Health Disciplines
Lesley Bainbridge, Professor / Director, Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine
William Godolphin, Professor, Pathology and Lab Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
Rosemin Kassam, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Year 2: Summary

Objective: To implement, evaluate, enrich and disseminate a previously developed set of modules designed to help students in health professions programs at UBC learn the practice of culturally sensitive health care.

Rationale: Current communication skills training in health professions programs at UBC does not adequately address the cultural diversity of the province. The previous TLEF grant resulted in a set of four generic modules on cross-cultural communication. Commitment has been obtained from faculty members representing several health professions programs to implement the modules in existing curricula.