Promoting Cultural Competence in Doctor of Physical Therapy Students

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Cultural Competence in Healthcare
• Physical Therapy Training

Background:

• Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students require enhanced cultural competence training.
• Existing curricula may not fully address the nuances of multicultural patient care.
• An educational gap exists in preparing students for diverse patient populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To offer an educational opportunity beyond the standard Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum.
• To increase first-year DPT students' awareness and understanding of cultural competence.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a tele-intervention on cultural competence.

Main Methods:

• A pre- and post-assessment design was employed with first-year DPT students (n=40 pre, n=32 post).
• A 90-minute live educational session on cultural competence was delivered via Zoom.
• The California Brief Multicultural Competence (CBMCS) scale measured changes in knowledge, awareness, sensitivity, and responsiveness.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant improvements were observed in Multicultural Knowledge (p<0.035) and Awareness of Cultural Barriers (p<0.001).
• The total score on the CBMCS scale indicated an overall improvement in multicultural competence (p<0.010).
• While not statistically significant, trends suggested positive changes in Sensitivity and Responsiveness to Consumers and Socio-Cultural Diversities.

Conclusions:

• The tele-intervention effectively increased Doctor of Physical Therapy students' multicultural knowledge and awareness.
• Enhanced cultural competence is crucial for adapting and succeeding in providing competent patient care.
• The findings support the integration of targeted cultural competence training in physical therapy education.