Cross-Cultural Training

Methods of Instruction

Methods of instruction include small and large group activities, film, class discussions, self-reflection exercises, polls, and lecturettes.  

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Cross-Cultural Communication

In our increasingly diverse world, communication is a challenge. It becomes even more complex in health care settings, where patients and clients may be struggling to understand an illness or cope with a diagnosis. This course looks at ways to communicate across the boundaries of language and culture to negotiate a successful interaction around healthcare. From non-verbal cues to views on communication in general this workshop provides knowledge and skills-building for today’s health care professionals working with people from many different cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds.

Beliefs & Barriers Series

This series provides an overview of health attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that diverse communities may hold as well as the institutional, community and provider level barriers that may prevent diverse communities from accessing health care and human services. Each class is a full day.  

Latin American Community- Health Beliefs and Barriers – This course begins by addressing geography, historical immigration patterns, and areas of the state where Latin American communities have settled. Common health beliefs and modes of communication are covered with a focus on communicating across potential barriers to negotiate a successful interaction around health care. Small and large group exercises, self-reflection, video, and lecturettes are used to engage participants.  

Muslim Community- Health Beliefs and Barriers – With an estimated following of 1.8 billion in the world, Islam is considered by some to be one of the world’s fastest growing religions. This has important implications for healthcare providers in the United States as we see communities from Muslim countries around the world resettle in different cities and towns. Contributing to this are the war in Syria, economic and social upheaval in Lebanon and Iraq, and the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban. Our Muslim patients often come with a completely different view of health care and health care services. This workshop addresses the beliefs and potential barriers that a Muslim patient may present. Looking at both protective factors and challenges, our instructor will help health care professionals understand how to communicate effectively with Muslim patients and be able to serve them well, considering beliefs that may interact with treatment options, medication, food and fasting, collective community beliefs, and prayer. This course is facilitated by Dr. Heba Abolaban and Marilyn Gardner.

South Asian Community- Health Beliefs and Barriers – The South Asian community in Massachusetts is a growing community both in and outside of our larger cities. Beginning with geography and immigration patterns, we offer participants an overview of this community. Health beliefs that may emerge as barriers are addressed including filial piety, sexuality, views of health and wellness, medication vs. Wholistic remedies, gender roles, collectivist societies and the strengths and challenges that can present in a health care setting, and faith are addressed. The course is co-taught by and American who was raised in Pakistan and a South Indian who was raised in the United States.

Refugee Health – We are in a world-wide time of displacement. Global displacement is at a record high with conflicts becoming more violent and complex. The numbers we are seeing today are double the numbers from 20 years ago. 80% of refugees are hosted by neighboring countries, which are some of the poorest countries in the world with only 16% of the world’s refugees hosted in wealthy and developed parts of the world. These are just a few of the statistics that emphasize the need for greater understanding of refugees in health care settings. Beginning with a discussion of global displacement, this workshop then moves into populations that health care professionals can expect to encounter in clinical settings. The workshop looks at the process of resettlement, common health problems, top mental health issues that refugees face include PTSD, anxiety, and depression, potential communication barriers, and the need for a culturally responsive approach using “The Process of Cultural Competence in the Delivery of Healthcare Services: A Model of Care” created by Josepha Campinha-Bacote. Methods of instruction include lecturette, small and large group activities, polls, film, and class discussion.