Short-Term Training, Lifelong Impact: Behavioral Medicine's Role in Elevating First-Year Physician Assistant Students' Cultural IQ.

Abstract

Introduction: Cultural competence is essential in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care, especially in increasingly diverse clinical environments. Despite its importance, cultural competency training in health professions education remains inconsistent and often inadequate. This quantitative study examined the impact of a 3-month behavioral medicine course on first-year physician assistant (PA) students' cultural intelligence and preparedness to provide culturally competent care.

Methods: A presurvey and postsurvey design was used to assess changes in cultural sensitivity using a validated assessment tool, the Cultural Sensitivity Questionnaire.6 A priori power analysis (effect size = 0.5, power = 0.8) determined a minimum sample size of 34. Paired samples t-test analyzed differences between precourse (group A) and postcourse (group B) scores.

Results: A total of 44 participants completed both surveys. Postintervention scores showed a statistically significant improvement in cultural sensitivity awareness (group A: M = 4.863, standard deviation [SD] = 0.732; group B: M = 5.548, SD = 0.794; t(39) = 4.279, P < .001).

Discussion: Findings support the integration of structured behavioral medicine curricula that incorporate cultural competency tools in PA education. Enhancing cultural intelligence among PA students may improve clinical communication and mitigate health disparities across diverse populations.