Assessing the Application of Cultural Competence Training During Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences

Objectives: The racial and ethnic composition of the United States population is rapidly changing. With the increase in diversity, it is inevitable that pharmacists will interact with people from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Cultural competence is one strategy to providing comprehensive health care for multicultural patients as well as reducing health disparities and improving patient outcomes. Although studies have shown students learn what is taught and depict enhanced knowledge, none have addressed if the knowledge is applied. In this study, the student’s assessment of their application of cultural competence training during Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE) will be explored. Primary endpoints included identifying what types of cultural competency events students experienced, describing how they applied their cultural competence knowledge, and identifying their perceived level of comfort in providing culturally competent care to patients.

Methods: Fourth-year professional pharmacy students at Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy were asked to complete a cross-sectional questionnaire during a mandatory class meeting at the end of their fourth rotation. The questionnaire contained 4 parts assessing the students’ cultural competence experiences while on APPEs, level of comfort in a variety of cultural situations and encounters, the amount of training previously received, and student demographics. Surveys will be analyzed using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U, Chi Square, and ANOVA analysis.

Results: A total of 124 questionnaires were received. Average age of the respondents was 25.9 years; 66% were female. Approximately 75% specified English as their first language with 30% living in at least one other country. Most respondents described their household as upper middle class (39.5%) or lower middle class (36.3%).  Two-thirds of the students considered themselves religious, and approximately 56% had community or retail experience.

Conclusions: Research efforts are on-going with projected completion date March 1, 2012.