Impact of cultural contact on intercultural competency of occupational therapy students and international graduate students.
This study examined changes in cultural perceptions and communication of 47 occupational therapy students and 39 international graduate students following 5 peer teaching activities. The peer-teaching activities were designed on the premise that positive contact between people of equal status improves intercultural competency, and included social exchanges, interviews, feedback on practice teaching, and role-playing. Changes in intercultural competency were measured with pre- and post administration of the Cross Cultural Adaptability Inventory (CCAI), as well as questionnaires and journals. Significant positive change between pre- and post-test scores on the CCAI (p<.0002) was found for the 86 participants. When stratified into 3 subgroups (international students and occupational therapy students with and without international travel experience), changes were more pronounced. Occupational therapy students with international travel experience benefited the most from the peer-teaching activities (p<.002) and international graduate students benefited as well (p<.009). Occupational therapy students without international travel experienced no significant change. The findings indicate that peer teaching activities significantly impacted cross-cultural communication for students with prior international travel experience and confirm the importance of contextual learning.
Matsuda
Sandra J
SJ
Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions, 421 Lewis Hall, University of Missouri Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. Tel 573- 884-7312, fax 573-884-2610. matsudas@health.missouri.edu.
Miller
Marilyn
M
D000367:Age Factors; D003142:Communication; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007393:International Educational Exchange; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000193:education*; D011361:Professional Competence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013336:Students, Health Occupations