Cross-cultural training of general practitioner registrars: how does it happen?
Kelly Watt A B , Penny Abbott A and Jenny Reath A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Medicine, Campbelltown Campus Building 30, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: k.watt@uws.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 22(4) 349-353 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY14165
Submitted: 14 November 2014 Accepted: 11 April 2015 Published: 26 August 2015
Abstract
An equitable multicultural society requires general practitioners (GPs) to be proficient in providing health care to patients from diverse backgrounds. GPs are required to have a certain attitudes, knowledge and skills known as cultural competence. Given its importance to registrar training, the aim of this study was to explore ways in which GP registrars are currently developing cultural competence. This study employed a survey design for GP registrars in Western Sydney. Training approaches to cultural competence that are relevant to the Australian General Practice setting include exposure to diversity, attitudes, knowledge and skills development. The 43 GP registrar respondents in Western Sydney are exposed to a culturally diverse patient load during training. Registrars report a variety of teachings related to cross-cultural training, but there is little consistency, with the most common approach entailing listening to patients’ personal stories. Exposure to cultural diversity appears to be an important way in which cultural competency is developed. However, guidance and facilitation of skills development throughout this exposure is required and currently may occur opportunistically rather than consistently.
Additional keywords: cultural competency, cultural competency education, general practice, graduate medical education.
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