Int J Pharm Pract 1998:6:83-90

Department of Pharmacy and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, St John's University, Jamaica, NY 11439, United States
Madhu Agrawal, PhD, assistant professor in pharmacy administration
Robert Sause, former professor in pharmacy administration

Correspondence: Dr Agrawal agrawalm@stjohns.edu

Original Papers

Serving multi-ethnic populations: measuring the cultural sensitivity of pharmacy interns in New York City

MADHU AGRAWAL and ROBERT SAUSE

The cultural sensitivity of pharmacy interns in New York City towards issues associated with serving multi-ethnic populations was examined and measured. Cultural sensitivity included areas such as ability to speak/understand the local language, an understanding of the health needs and problems of different cultural groups and the desire to help patients of different ethnic backgrounds. In general, the 108 pharmacy interns who answered the survey instrument appeared to recognise the importance for practising pharmacists to be sensitive to the needs of ethnic populations. The interns felt that medication compliance, pharmacist-patient relationship, patient satisfaction, patient trust and ability to understand over-the-counter directions would be greater if the pharmacist could speak the language and understand the culture of the customer population. Pharmacy interns of ethnic background and those with multilingual capabilities were found to exhibit greater cultural sensitivity. The results should be useful to educators in preparing future pharmacists for the profession.