The need for a standardized evaluation method to assess efficacy of cultural competence initiatives in medical education and residency programs

Abstract

Cultural competence education is relatively new in the United States, particularly in the area of graduate and post-graduate medical education. There is, however, wide acceptance that an understanding of the role culture plays in the treatment and care of patients is critical. Numerous studies and a variety of commentaries document this importance, but valid, uniform evaluation methods for assessing the efficacy of these efforts is lacking. This review discusses existing evaluation efforts and makes suggestions regarding future development of such tools.