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Cultural consensus analysis as a tool for clinic improvements

  • Innovations In Education And Clinical Practice
  • Published:
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Abstract

Some problems in clinic function recur because of unexpected value differences between patients, faculty, and residents. Cultural consensus analysis (CCA) is a method used by anthropologists to identify groups with shared values. After conducting an ethnographic study and using focus groups, we developed and validated a CCA tool for use in clinics. Using this instrument, we identified distinct groups with 6 important value differences between those groups. An analysis of these value differences suggested specific and pragmatic interventions to improve clinic functioning. The instrument has also performed well in preliminary tests at another clinic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Northwest Regional Faculty Development Center, VA Medical Center, Boise, Idaho

    C. Scott Smith MD, Magdalena Morris RN, MS, CS, William Hill PhD & Chris Francovich EdD

  2. Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash

    C. Scott Smith MD & Caroline Rhoads MD

  3. Department of Medical Education and Biomedical Informatics, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash

    C. Scott Smith MD

  4. Department of Nursing, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho

    Magdalena Morris RN, MS, CS

  5. Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Calif

    Juliet McMullin PhD

  6. Department of Anthropology, University of California, Irvine, Calif

    Leo Chavez PhD

Authors
  1. C. Scott Smith MD
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  2. Magdalena Morris RN, MS, CS
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  3. William Hill PhD
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  4. Chris Francovich EdD
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  5. Juliet McMullin PhD
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  6. Leo Chavez PhD
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  7. Caroline Rhoads MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Scott Smith MD.

Additional information

This material is based upon work supported by the Office of Research and Development, Health Services R&D Service, Department of Veterans Affairs (grant PCC 98-010).

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Smith, C.S., Morris, M., Hill, W. et al. Cultural consensus analysis as a tool for clinic improvements. J GEN INTERN MED 19, 514–518 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2004.30061.x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2004.30061.x

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