title: Impact of cultural contact on intercultural competency of occupational therapy students and international graduate students.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Sandra J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: 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