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Academic Education (AE)

PP203 - Cultural Humility in Audiology: An Educational Necessity

Posters
Location: Halls 4EF

    Lead Presenter(s)

  • Stephanie Xin, BS (she/her/hers)

    The Ohio State University
    The Ohio State University
    Dublin, Ohio

    Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant financial relationships with anything to disclose.
    Non-Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant non-financial relationships with anything to disclose.

    PDF Slides

    • Contributor(s)

  • Gail M. Whitelaw, PhD

    Audiologist/Clinical Professor
    The Ohio State University
    Columbus, Ohio

    Disclosure(s): The Ohio State University: Employment (Ongoing)

Abstract:
Cultural humility in patient care is patient-centered care. The field of audiology should act as a leader among clinical doctorate programs by integrating a dedicated course within the Au.D. curriculum that encompasses identity, healthcare disparities, and clinical applications of cultural humility. Nurturing awareness throughout and beyond students’ academic careers is essential for training well-rounded and ethically-sound audiologists.

Summary:
Culture is often defined solely based upon an individual’s race and/or ethnicity. However, culture encapsulates a multitude of factors that contribute to a person’s overall identity – socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion, and more. As healthcare professionals, it is imperative to recognize the diversity of the patient population as well as how social and institutional constructs impact an individual’s access to quality care.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) sessions are often reduced to either generic online modules or singular seminars that neglect to address core issues and fail to facilitate genuine dialogue. Many existing DEI courses are taught through the outdated categorical approach, which relies upon oversimplified traits (i.e., stereotypes) of various groups to proclaim cultural competency. This method eliminates individual identities and operates on the assumption that these groups exist as monoliths. Fragmented and cursory approaches to cultural humility and DEI topics can lead to situations that negatively impact rapport and trust between clinicians and patients.

Ethical practice is founded on respect and understanding for the patient. The primary aim of this poster is to introduce clinical audiologists to identities, values, and other components that make up an individual’s culture, as well as to elucidate the importance of integrating foundations of cultural humility (e.g., diverse identities, access to care, healthcare disparities, etc.) into the graduate clinical audiology curriculum.

This poster presentation will include a sample curriculum (e.g., syllabus, assignment examples, suggested readings) and recommended steps toward integrating cultural humility into a graduate program.

Learning Objectives:

  • Upon completion of this poster session, the participant will identify the importance of integrating cultural humility into audiology programs and clinical care.