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Background: Fear of physicians is associated with a variety of negative relationship and clinical outcomes. Culturally competent communication has been suggested as a way for physicians to reduce patient fear. Previous research has not, however, assessed whether patients’ perceptions of physicians’ cultural competence are associated with the level of felt fear. This study assessed associations between patients’ fear of physicians and their perceptions of physicians’ cultural competence in healthcare interactions. Method: In this cross-sectional study, a purposive sample of 306 patients were recruited from the patient base of a local clinic system with three locations, one rural, one suburban, and one urban in Appalachian Ohio. Using validated paper-and-pencil questionnaires, we assessed patients’ perceptions of physicians’ cultural competence in four domains (macro cultural issues, proxemics/chronemics, language issues, and patient-centeredness) as well as fear of physicians. Results: Fear of physicians was associated with perceptions that physicians’ accommodated cultural differences related to issues of personal space and time and with perceptions of physicians’ provision of patient-centered care. Other domains of intercultural competence indicated negative association, but were not significant. Conclusions: The findings of this study provide evidence that some forms of physician accommodation of cultural difference are associated with reduced fear of physicians. These findings have implications for promoting physicians' cultural competence in healthcare interactions. These implications, with a focus on patient-physician communication are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis B and its resultant liver cancer are leading causes of morbidity and mortality among Asians and Pacific Islanders (API). In the United States, the disproportionately high prevalence rates of these diseases in the API population constitute some of the nation's greatest health disparities. However, public awareness remains poor and public health efforts need to be strengthened. The Jade Ribbon Campaign is a culturally and linguistically targeted, evidence-based model programme for health communication to improve awareness among API. This model demonstrates that cultural competency does not simply entail a straightforward transfer of ideas, strategies, and materials from one culture or language to another. Rather, it requires a deep understanding of a target community, a multi-faceted approach, and the buy-in of diverse stakeholders, many of whom may not be in health-care-related fields. This paper discusses the Jade Ribbon Campaign as a model programme to illustrate the strategies and components for developing a successful, culturally competent health awareness campaign. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and Liaison Committee on Medical Education mandate that cultural competency be taught in medical schools. This paper presents a case study on how to assess cultural competency in the medical school curriculum by the use of a version of the Tool for Assessing Cultural Competency Training (TACCT) adapted for quantitative and qualitative data collection. A committee, trained to use the tool, conducted interviews with pre-clinical and clinical (clerkship) course directors. Interviews were conducted with 19/21 pre-clinical and 10/10 clinical course directors. Qualitative data were categorised by items 'taught or 'not taught'. Data were tabulated by the mean percentage responding 'yes' to any item 'taught'. For any 'yes' response for pre-clinical courses, the mean range was 0-53 per cent and for clinical courses, 0-80 per cent. For each 'yes' response, the interviewer asked if the content was formally evaluated. Of the total items taught, there was a range of 0-21 per cent evaluated during the course. Qualitative comments were solicited throughout the interviews. Conducting face-toface semi-structured interviews is a process that is invaluable as a method of collecting data on cultural competency content taught and evaluated in the curriculum. These interviews also facilitated bridging gaps, addressed misconceptions, and forged future collaboration with course directors on how to teach cultural competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objectives Transgender persons represent a generally ill-served or underserved population. This marginalized group continues to experience considerable difficulty in obtaining culturally competent health care despite recommendations by professional organizations and introduction of antidiscrimination legislation. This review examines communication and procedural barriers to transgender health care and suggests practical steps to help ameliorate disparities and unequal treatment. Methods Publications addressing health disparities and communication and procedural barriers to health care of transgender persons were identified by a structured search of electronic databases. The most pertinent articles are reviewed and consolidated with the authors' collective experiences. Results To improve their interactions and communication with transgender persons, health care providers can take a variety of practical steps in several key areas: office environment, registration forms, initial interview and assessment, confidentiality, personnel training, awareness of and compliance with applicable antidiscrimination legislation, health insurance-related issues, and outreach and transgender health promotion. Conclusions Enhancing patient satisfaction through culturally competent health care, quality assurance, and patient feedback is critical to creating open lines of communication between practitioner and patient and fostering a favorable context for transgender patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]