Pharmacy students' perceptions of cultural competence encounters during practice experiences.

OBJECTIVE:To determine pharmacy students' perceptions regarding cultural competence training, cross-cultural experiences during advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs), and perceived comfort levels with various cultural encounters. METHODS:Fourth-year pharmacy (P4) students were asked to complete a questionnaire at the end of their fourth APPE. RESULTS:Fifty-two of 124 respondents (31.9%) reported having 1 or more cultural competence events during their APPEs, the most common of which was caring for a patient with limited English proficiency. CONCLUSION:Students reported high levels of comfort with specific types of cultural encounters (disabilities, sexuality, financial barriers, mental health), but reported to be less comfortable in other situations.