Using Simulation to Bridge Communication and Cultural Barriers in Health Care Encounters: Report of an International Workshop

This article reports on a workshop conducted for the purpose of teaching culturally competent communication through the use of high fidelity patient simulation (HFPS). The workshop was held at the 9th International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare, organized by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare and held at Lake Buena Vista, Florida, in January 2009. The objective of the workshop was to stimulate discussion among health care educators about state-of-the-art methods of incorporating cultural awareness and sensitivity into communication skill development through the use of HFPS scenarios. Introductory background and significance information, workshop materials, interactions from the workshop groups, and a summary of the themes that emerged from the workshop experience are presented.