?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Continuing+Education+Effects+on+Cultural+Competence+Knowledge+and+Skills+Building+among+Health+Professionals&rft.creator=Hall%2C+MB&rft.creator=Guidry%2C+JJ&rft.creator=McKyer%2C+ELJ&rft.creator=Outley%2C+C&rft.creator=Ballard%2C+D&rft.subject=Online+Journal+of+Health+and+Allied+Sciences&rft.description=Racial+and+ethnic+minority+health+data+from+a+national+perspective+indicates+there+is+much+to+learn+in+the+public+health+workforce+about+the+ongoing+health+disparities+crisis.+This+suggests+a+level+of+urgency+to+assist+our+public+health+professionals+in+obtaining+specific+skills+sets+that+will+assist+them+in+working+better+with+vulnerable+populations.+The+purpose+of+this+research+is+to+assess+cultural+competence+knowledge+and+programmatic+skill+sets%2C+utilizing+an+explorational+case+study%2C+of+individuals+employed+within+an+urban+public+health+department.+In+order+to+effectively+evaluate+these+constructs%2C+a+quantitative+research+approach+was+employed+to+examine+participants%E2%80%99+knowledge+and+competencies+of+the+subject+matter.+This+data+was+further+analyzed+to+determine+if+continuing+education+participation+and+training+was+correlated+to+the+levels+of+culturally+competent+practice+engagement+and+self-reported+confidence.+In+addition%2C+researchers+obtained+data+on+the+availability+of+employer+sponsored+training+opportunities.+The+data+suggested+when+health+professionals+engage+in+cultural+competence+education%2C+their+level+of+awareness+of+unique+characteristics+between+ethnic+and+racial+minorities+increased.+Those+who+exhibited+the+healthiest+behaviors%2C+as+it+relates+to+effectively+working+with+diverse+populations%2C+had+a+heightened+sense+of+knowledge+related+to+culture+and+healthcare+services.+Continuing+education+in+cultural+competence+is+an+essential+strategy+for+improving+public+health+employees%E2%80%99+effectiveness+in+working+with+diverse+clients+and+reducing+racial+and+ethnic+health+disparities.+As+the+finding+illustrated%2C+training+programs+must+incorporate+educational+components+which+foster+skill+building+to+enable+subsequent+culturally+appropriate+clinical+interactions.&rft.publisher=Kakkilaya+BS&rft.contributor=Kakkilaya%2C+Dr+Srinivas&rft.date=2013-08-25&rft.type=Journal+(On-line%2FUnpaginated)&rft.type=PeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Fcogprints.org%2F9151%2F1%2F2013-2-3.pdf&rft.identifier=++Hall%2C+MB+and+Guidry%2C+JJ+and+McKyer%2C+ELJ+and+Outley%2C+C+and+Ballard%2C+D++(2013)+Continuing+Education+Effects+on+Cultural+Competence+Knowledge+and+Skills+Building+among+Health+Professionals.++%5BJournal+(On-line%2FUnpaginated)%5D+++++&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Fcogprints.org%2F9151%2F