Addressing Health Disparities through Cultural and Linguistic Competency Trainings

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Medical Education
• Sociology

Background:

• Persistent disparities in healthcare access and outcomes exist for diverse populations.
• Effective cross-cultural practice is essential for equitable service delivery.
• Cultural and Linguistic Competence (CALC) training aims to equip providers to serve diverse groups effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a 3.5-hour CALC training program.
• To assess changes in human service providers' knowledge, attitudes, and comfort levels regarding diverse populations.
• To identify implications for improving CALC training efficacy.

Main Methods:

• A pre- and post-training questionnaire design was employed.
• 317 participants from 21 training sessions completed the assessments.
• Data were collected in a predominantly white state, offering a specific demographic context.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in participants' knowledge and attitudes towards CALC.
• Participant comfort in serving diverse groups also showed significant improvement.
• However, the increase in comfort specifically related to applying CALC strategies was smaller than anticipated.

Conclusions:

• The CALC training demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing provider knowledge and attitudes.
• Further refinement of CALC training is needed to bolster provider comfort and skill in practical application.
• Future research should explore methods to maximize the transfer of CALC knowledge into clinical practice.