Cultural Diversity Education: Does this 'Soft Science' Deserve a Place in Medical Curricula?

Abstract

Cultural diversity issues surround us in today’s society and there continues to be much political and social debate about the myriad of topics that come under this heading. However this is yet to be mirrored in medical school curricula across the country. In the UK the need to train medical undergraduates and healthcare professionals to interact and work well with individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds has been emphasised by the General Medical Council (GMC) publication Tomorrow’s Doctors, and the discussion papers that followed. It states that “[Graduates] must understand a range of social and cultural values, and differing views about healthcare and illness... They must make sure that they are not prejudiced by patients’ lifestyle, culture, beliefs, race, colour, gender, sexuality, age, mental or physical disability and social or economic status” (GMC, 2007). As this is found in the Curricular Content section it would imply that Cultural Diversity Training should be integrated into the medical school programme.

Keywords

cultural diversity

How to Cite

Nwokolo, M., (2007) “Cultural Diversity Education: Does this 'Soft Science' Deserve a Place in Medical Curricula?”, Opticon1826 3.

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Munachiso Nwokolo (UCL)

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