MedEdPORTAL : the journal of teaching and learning resources
Volume 14, 2018

Culturally Effective Care for Refugee Populations: Interprofessional, Interactive Case Studies (Article)

Fitzgerald S.N. , Leslie K.F. , Simpson R. , Jones V.F. , Barnes E.T.
  • a Coordinator, Department of Dental Clinical Affairs, University of Louisville School of Dentistry
  • b Program Manager, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, University of Louisville Health Sciences Center
  • c Office of Diversity and Inclusion, University of Louisville Health Sciences Center
  • d Associate Vice President, Health Affairs/Diversity Initiatives, University of Louisville Health Sciences Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville School of Medicine
  • e Research Associate for the Refugee Health Initiative, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, University of Louisville School of Medicine

Abstract

Introduction: Within health sciences education literature, the majority of reported student experiences with refugee populations are limited to traditional, professionally independent, elective courses and extracurricular volunteer opportunities. A simulated patient exercise is a learning opportunity that helps participants engage with material in real time in a realistic environment, demanding higher levels of learning. This session utilized a simulated patient facilitator in interprofessional small groups to explore common health needs and barriers to care among refugee populations. Methods: Health professions students from nine degree programs participated in a refugee health session in interprofessional teams of nine to 10 students to explore patient cases. The session concluded with a debriefing discussing the outcomes of the student-patient interaction, best practices, and exemplary practice models as takeaways. The simulated patient facilitators completed an Observation Checklist to assess students' grasp of learning objectives. Results: Five hundred twenty-four students participated in the refugee session, divided into 61 groups. Observation Checklists were completed for 58 groups (95%). Assessment of student engagement focused on general health needs common to refugee populations: barriers to health care, team and individual roles, bias, consequences of nontreatment, and social determinants of health. Most of the groups (95%) reported engagement between the simulated patient facilitator and the group of student providers. Qualitative data indicated student groups were knowledgeable in each of the overarching learning objectives. Discussion: This session allowed health sciences students to focus on culturally effective patient care for refugee populations as a part of an interprofessional team.

Author Keywords

Simulation Based Refugee health cultural competency Culturally Competent Care Interprofessional Relations Interprofessional

Index Keywords

professional-patient relationship Professional-Patient Relations Kentucky Culturally Competent Care Case-Control Studies refugee transcultural care procedures public relations case control study health student teaching human Humans Refugees psychology Interprofessional Relations Students, Health Occupations

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85074379593&doi=10.15766%2fmep_2374-8265.10668&partnerID=40&md5=f9a67f619985f398a4fc40e8da337480

DOI: 10.15766/mep_2374-8265.10668
ISSN: 23748265
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English