CULTURAL-DIVERSITY IN AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL-EDUCATION

The present study sought to explore the relevance of cultural dimensio ns and cultural diversity among overseas and local medical students. T he main comparison among the fourth year medical students studied was between Asian origin and Anglophone background students. The measures used included cultural variation, reasons for studying medicine, learn ing approaches and strategies, patient interaction confidence, and med ical practices anxieties. Results indicated cultural differences betwe en the two groups, and relationships between cultural variables and, i n particular, reasons for studying medicine, learning approaches and s trategies, and patient interaction confidence. Results were interprete d according to Hofstede's (1980, 1986) theory of cultural dimensions a s they may apply in the educational setting.