title: Improving the cultural competence of nursing students: results of integrating cultural content in the curriculum and an international immersion experience.
abstract: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the effect of integrating cultural content (ICC) in an undergraduate nursing curriculum on students' self-perceived cultural competence, and to determine whether a 5-week clinical immersion in international nursing (ICC Plus) had any additional effect on students' self-perceived cultural competence. Cultural competence was measured using a 28-item scale regarding students' self-perceived knowledge, self-awareness, and comfort with skills of cultural competence. Pretest scores from admission into the program were matched with posttest scores obtained just prior to graduation for 32 students, 7 of whom also participated in a 5-week immersion experience in Guatemala. Results, expressed in effect sizes, showed small to moderate gains for the 25 students in the ICC group, and very large gains for the 7 students in the ICC Plus group, related to perceived cultural competence. These results are consistent with the two-phase (cognitive and affective) development of cultural competence proposed by Wells.
authors.affiliation: Oregon Health & Science University, School of Nursing, 1250 Siskiyou Boulevard, Ashland, OR 97520, USA. caffreyr@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: Rosalie A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Caffrey
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Neander
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Markle
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003479:Curriculum; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009922:Oregon; D011361:Professional Competence; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D016746:Transcultural Nursing / Q000193:education*