Multicultural curricula in family practice residencies

Abstract

Background and objectives: In 1985, results from a national survey indicated that 25% of family practice residencies taught about multicultural issues in their programs. Our current study identified the current status and content of the curricula and determined facilitating and impeding factors to multicultural curricula.

Methods: In 1998, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine's Group on Multicultural Health Care and Education conducted a cross-sectional mail survey of all 476 family practice residency programs.

Results: With a 59% response rate, 58% of responding programs have an informal curriculum on multicultural issues, 28% have a formal curriculum, and 14% have no curriculum. Programs with a formal curriculum teach more content, employ more educational methods, use more evaluation techniques, and feel more successful than programs with an informal curriculum. Important factors that facilitate curricula include cultural diversity of communities and residents, multicultural interests of faculty and residents, and faculty's multicultural expertise. Factors that impede curricula include lack of time, money, resources, faculty expertise, and cultural diversity in the community. Programs with formal, informal, and no curriculum identify different facilitators and impediments.

Conclusion: There was a marked increase in the prevalence of multicultural curricula in family practice residencies from 1985 to 1998.