Perceived Confidence Levels of Cultural Humility Skills and Knowledge of Physician Assistant Students Who Have or Have Not Participated in Program-Sponsored Community Service Events.

Abstract

Introduction: While reducing health disparities is widely acknowledged as a crucial component in medical education, there is not a standard curriculum for teaching physician assistant (PA) students how to deliver patient care with cultural humility. Instead, PA programs use various methods. This study took place at a PA program that sponsored several community service events that targeted underserved populations. Student participation in events was voluntary. The purpose of the study was to explore PA students' confidence levels in providing patient care with cultural humility.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in November 2023 and participants were PA students enrolled at a single program with 2 campuses. All enrolled students were sent an anonymous online survey that collected demographic data and self-perceived skills and confidence levels in delivering patient care with cultural humility. Survey responses were compared between participants and nonparticipants of program-sponsored community service events using Welch-Satterthwaite t tests.

Results: Survey response rate was 43.8% (n = 213). Physician assistant students who participated in program-sponsored community service events rated their knowledge and skills to practice cultural humility as significantly greater than their counterparts who did not participate ( P < 0.05).

Discussion: Physician assistant students who participated in service projects that provided firsthand experience serving diverse populations rated their skills and knowledge in providing care with cultural humility as higher than students who had not participated.