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ERIC Number: ED535331
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 154
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: ISBN-978-1-1094-5239-6
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Cultural Competency Instruction in a 3D Virtual World
Steed, Robin
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, Nova Southeastern University
Approximately one third of the population of Louisiana is African American. According to federal reports, Blacks in Louisiana receive a poorer quality of healthcare compared to the White population. Occupational therapy is a profession of predominately White, middle class females who report in surveys that they are not adequately prepared to provide culturally sensitive care to minorities. Leaders in occupational therapy have suggested instruction in cultural competency as a way to remediate the gap in quality of healthcare services for African Americans. This pilot study examined the efficacy of providing thirteen Louisiana occupational therapists with an immersive cultural experience in the virtual 3D world of Second Life in an effort to bring about increased sensitivity towards the African American culture. The study employed a pre-test, post-test case study design using the Race Argument Scale and the Race Attitude Implicit Association Test as outcome measures. Analysis of quantitative post-test data indicated that some participants had negative attitudes towards African Americans that might affect interactions with minority clients and that the instruction in cultural competency did not significantly change these attitudes. Examination of the qualitative data collected during the instructional intervention supported this conclusion, although many occupational therapists stated that the intervention increased their awareness of the effects of discrimination on the health of African Americans. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Louisiana
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A