Power failure; an uncomfortable teaching initiative?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Sociolinguistics
• Healthcare Communication

Background:

• Introduced Cultural Humility as an alternative to Cultural Competence.
• Focused on power dynamics in clinical communication, particularly language use in General Practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To teach medical students about Cultural Humility.
• To explore how power is conveyed through language in clinical settings.
• To analyze student reflections on the impact of clinical language.

Main Methods:

• Developed and delivered a teaching initiative on Cultural Humility for third-year medical students.
• Focused on oral consultations and written clinical notes.
• Analyzed student reflections on the session.

Main Results:

• Attended students positively evaluated the session, increasing their awareness of clinical language's power to stereotype and dehumanize patients.
• Students demonstrated Cultural Humility by reflecting on the harm caused by common clinical language.
• Low attendance was a significant challenge despite efforts to emphasize clinical relevance.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a framework for educators interested in teaching Cultural Humility.
• Highlights the need for careful consideration in developing and delivering training on power in clinical communication.
• Emphasizes the importance of engaging students with the complex topic of power dynamics in healthcare.