Incorporating Structural Competency into Clinical Ethics: Piloting New Bioethics Education

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Bioethics
• Public Health

Background:

• Structural competency is a required component of medical training.
• This approach focuses on understanding and responding to social determinants of health.
• Existing bioethics education can be enhanced by incorporating structural competency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the integration of structural competency into postgraduate bioethics education.
• To assess the impact of structural competency education on clinicians' ability to address ethical dilemmas.
• To explore the practical application of structural competency in clinical ethics.

Main Methods:

• A clinical ethics program integrated structural competency into bioethics education for residents and clinicians.
• Pilot education program involved practical skills training.
• Feedback was collected through evaluation surveys and case study development.

Main Results:

• The pilot program received extremely positive feedback from clinicians.
• 97% of respondents found structural competency education valuable or very valuable.
• Clinicians reported immediate incorporation of strategies into ethically challenging patient care.

Conclusions:

• Structural competency education is beneficial for bioethics training.
• Integrating structural competency can improve clinicians' ability to address social forces impacting patient care.
• Further examination of these educational strategies is recommended.