In this Issue   (February 2006)

• CCQ:  Dentistry and Cultural Competency
• MHG:  African Americans and Death & Dying
• MHS:  Lecture Series and Video Lending
• In the Spotlight:  Japanese Family Health Program
• National News:  Commonwealth Foundation, KFF, & RWJF

    CCQ   (Cultural Competency Question)

Q:  Where can I find on-line information about dentistry and cultural competency?

A:  http://www.med.umich.edu/multicultural/ccp/culcomp.htm#dentistry

    MHG    (Multicultural Health Generalization)

• Faith or spirituality can play an important role in the life and death of many African Americans.
• One reason why some African Americans might be resistant to completing written advance directives is historical mistreatment, and thus mistrust of the medical system.
• Among the younger generations of African Americans, some are giving more consideration to hospice.
• Palliative care is an option acceptable among some African Americans.
• A dying African American patient or family member might request the presence of a spiritual leader at the bedside.
• Many African Americans and their friends may have a desire to mourn together at the death of a loved one.

Sources:
1. Edwards, G. (2006). Program for Multicultural Health, University of Michigan Health System.
2. Andrews, J.D. (2005). African Americans. Cultural, Ethnic, and Religious Reference Manual for Health Care Providers. (3rd edition). JAMARDA Resources, Inc. Winston-Salem, NC.
3. Barrett R.K., Heller K.S. (2001). "Death and dying in the black experience: An interview with Ronald K. Barrett." Innovations in End-of-Life Care. 3(5), http://www.edc.org/lastacts (accessed 2/2006)
4. Crawley, L., Payne, R., Bolden, J., Payne, T., Washington, P., & Willaims, S. (2000). "Palliative and End-of-Life Care in the African American Community" JAMA. 284(19):2518-2521

* For additional Multicultural Health Generalizations, please visit:   http://www.med.umich.edu/multicultural/ccp/bmhg.htm

    MHS   (Multicultural Health Series)

Topic: Providing Care to Buddhist Patients
Presenter: Jackie Kurtz, Zen Buddhist Temple

Date/Time: March 23, Thursday from 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Location: MCHC Auditorium
(located on the second floor of the Mott Children's Hospital,
 near the Towsley Triangle)

Videoconferenced:
TBD

To view a list of multicultural health presentations on videotape
available for borrowing, please visit http://www.med.umich.edu/multicultural/ccp/videos.htm.

We look forward to fulfilling your requests!

    In the Spotlight   
    (An excerpt from this participant's 1st Annual Cultural Competency Exchange application.)

The Japanese Family Health Program (JFHP) started in 1994 under the leadership of Dr. Mike Fetters. Since its inception, the JFHP's goal has been to provide linguistically and culturally competent care to the Japanese speaking population of Southeast Michigan. The program also supports medical education and research, with the clinic serving as a clinical laboratory. The JFHP is administered by the Department of Family Medicine and the clinical operations are housed in the East Ann Arbor Health Center.

The JFHP's mission is three-fold: clinical, research, and educational. A wide array of primary care services, including medical, social and behavioral services, is provided under the clinical mission. The JFHP provides care to patients of all ages. The clinical mission also encompass 1) an executive physicals program, developed in response to the demand from the Japanese community, 2) monthly prenatal classes taught in Japanese, and 3) linguistically and culturally appropriate patient education material.

A series of research projects have developed around the JFHP. Topics and interventions in mental health, lifestyle changes, and prenatal and birth care are addressed. Family medicine research on Japanese health has focused on two primary areas: topics of importance to primary care practitioners and on medical student and resident education.

Under the educational mission, the program seeks to demonstrate the relevance of culture and language on patient care in the areas of health outcomes and patient satisfaction. Specific features include providing rotations for medical students to interact with Japanese patients, developing general skills necessary for providing culturally sensitive care and teaching specifics of culturally sensitive care for the Japanese patient population.

In spite of initial pessimism about the program, the JFHP continues to successfully meet the health care needs of the Japanese population in southeast Michigan. Over 5,000 visits were recorded in 2003-2004. Additionally, the program annually provides prenatal services to 100 patients and performs about 60 deliveries. The JFHP attracts about 35 medical visitors from Japan each year, including deans, department chairs, physicians, residents, and medical students.

    National News   (Commonwealth Foundation, KFF, & RWJF)

Learning From Each Other: Cultural Competency in Medicine and Dentistry
American Medical Student Association
2006 Leadership Training Program
http://www.amsa.org/addm/index.cfm#ltp

California Groups Working to Increase Number of Bilingual Nurses, Offer Culturally Competent Care
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
January 23, 2006
http://www.rwjf.org/portfolios/features/digest.jsp?iaid=133&id=89778

2005 Annual Report: Quality of Care for Underserved Populations
Commonwealth Foundation
January 25, 2006
http://www.cmwf.org/usr_doc/site_docs/annualreports/2005/pdf/AR2005_09_underserved.pdf

2005 Annual Report: Patient-Centered Care
Commonwealth Foundation
January 25, 2006
http://www.cmwf.org/usr_doc/site_docs/annualreports/2005/msg_pres06.htm

African Americans Face Higher Risk of Lung Cancer Than Other Races, Study Says
Kaiser Family Foundation
January 26, 2006
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=35014

Baltimore Health Advocacy Group Creates Materials to Improve Prenatal Care for Latina Immigrants
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
January 30, 2006
http://www.rwjf.org/portfolios/features/digest.jsp?iaid=133&id=90208

Northern California Health System Works to Meet the Linguistic, Cultural Needs of Growing Asian Population
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
February 1, 2006
http://www.rwjf.org/portfolios/features/digest.jsp?iaid=133&id=90368

Physician 'Affinity' Web Sites Help Patients Find Providers Based on Race, Other Characteristics
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
February 1, 2006
http://www.rwjf.org/portfolios/features/digest.jsp?iaid=133&id=90292

Improved Cultural Competency, Translation Services Part of Virginia's Long-Term HIV/AIDS Plan
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
February 2, 2006
http://www.rwjf.org/portfolios/features/digest.jsp?iaid=133&id=90449

Journal Focuses on African-American Health
Kaiser Family Foundation
February 2, 2006
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=35173

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