Preparing Culturally Competent Health Educators: The Development and Evaluation of a Cultural Immersion Service-Learning Program

摘要

The United States is becoming an increasingly diverse culture. To function in this diverse setting, health education students need opportunities to develop cultural competence. Cultural immersion service-learning courses are one way to meet this need. Using a combination of literature review and experiences with a cultural immersion service-learning course in Honduras, the authors explore important issues associated with the development of a cultural immersion service-learning course for health education students. Activities during the immersion as well as pre and post immersion activities and evaluation are discussed along with the challenges and rewards of working in a developing country.