Community voices: views on the training of future doctors in Birmingham, UK

Sheila Greenfield, Pauline Anderson, Paramjit Gill, Rhian Loudon, John Skelton, Nick Ross, James Parle

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

    8 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The United Kingdom (UK) population is diverse with nearly 6% minority ethnic communities. Both patients and doctors experience difficulties when dealing with someone from a different ethnic group. Medical education has failed to keep pace with the changing needs of the diverse population. We report a project in which 12 established (religious/cultural and specific interest) community groups expressed their views on what future doctors should learn about serving diverse populations. Data were obtained by group discussion and through the media using a structured format. Fifteen themes emerged which were grouped under three broad themes: firstly, the identification by group members of their perception of the 'differences' in social and cultural beliefs and behaviours of their individual community; secondly, the identification of characteristics of a culturally sensitive doctor; and lastly, recommendations for changes in medical training. New teaching has been introduced to the medical curriculum that incorporates the themes raised by the communities and which reflects consciousness raising and communication issues.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)43-50
    Number of pages8
    JournalPatient Education and Counseling
    Volume45
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2001

    Keywords

    • diverse communities
    • medical education
    • community participation

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