Effecting change in multicultural health promotion: a systems approach

Given the context of a rapidly changing demography and an evolving health care system, the project described in this article was designed to address the system-wide need for changes in allied health service delivery to minority populations. A multidisciplinary, multicultural, and participative model was adopted to initiate attitudinal and behavioral changes among three groups: faculty from three allied health departments, students preparing for careers in these three professions, and community health care practitioners. This paper briefly describes the major objectives, activities, and outcomes of the project as well as insight into the factors and dynamics that affected its immediate and long-range success. The idea that significant and lasting change requires strategies that incorporate the interactive dynamics of individuals and groups of the inclusive health care system was supported in the outcomes of the project.