In this article, we review key factors in promoting a culturally diverse and inclusive learning environment for all undergraduate medical students, and the role of primary care educators in preparing students to work with diverse teams, patients and communities. These factors include approaches to curriculum and assessment, student community, faculty development and recruitment, and wider institutional factors. By highlighting these, including areas where further research, evaluation and consensus are needed, we hope to support further discourse on how primary care educators can promote culturally diverse and inclusive undergraduate medical education.
Background
Racially minoritised groups across the globe continue to experience differential outcomes in both health and education. Medical schools can play an instrumental role in addressing both these disparities, by creating inclusive student communities and ensuring that tomorrow's doctors can care for our increasingly diverse populations.
Objectives
This collaborative, qualitative study led by three United Kingdom (UK) institutions aimed to explore the perspectives of Heads of Primary Care Teaching (HOTs) on cultural diversity and inclusion across UK medical schools.
Methods
In December 2020, five focus groups were conducted remotely with 23 HOTs, or a nominated deputy. We explored participants' opinions regarding opportunities and barriers to cultural diversity and inclusion in medical education, ways to overcome these challenges and shared examples of best practice. Data were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed by three researchers.
Results
Investigators identified six themes from the data: lack of faculty diversity, tokenistic faculty training, institutional mindset, diversifying the formal and hidden curricula, intersectionality and student voice.
Conclusion
Medical schools worldwide face similar challenges, uncertainties and opportunities when integrating diversity and inclusion throughout the learning environment. Although the importance of the topic is increasingly acknowledged, current efforts are viewed as being passive and tokenistic, hindered by challenges at multiple levels. Partnership with students and collaboration within and between institutions nationally and internationally will enable us to move forwards with both local and global positive, sustainable change.
Platelets play a vital role in haemostasis; therefore, an increase or decrease in levels or a disorder of platelet function can lead to symptoms such as easy bruising and excessive bleeding, particularly from mucocutaneous sites. Patients may also report symptoms associated with the underlying condition. Platelet disorders pose a particular challenge for primary care, due to the vast array of potential causes and clinical outcomes, ranging from little effect to life-threatening problems. Initial assessment in primary care should aim to identify those requiring urgent investigation or treatment, while also determining an underlying cause and potential complications.
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