Page 177 - S. Ličen, I. Karnjuš, & M. Prosen (Eds.). (2019). Women, migrations and health: Ensuring transcultural healthcare. Koper, University of Primorska Press.
P. 177
Cultural Competence in Nursing
healthcare paradigm commits healthcare organisations, institutions and pro-
fessionals to understand and respect cultural differences, and adjust their
care accordingly. The leading concept of cultural competence in healthcare
integrates three fundamental components: linguistic competence, work-
force diversity, and workforce cultural competence (Baldwin, 2003; Gallagher
& Polanin, 2015). At this point, we can conclude that cultural competency is
a broad concept used to describe a variety of interventions that aim to im-
prove the accessibility and effectiveness of healthcare services for people
from culturally diverse groups (Truong et al., 2014).
Today, it is well known that nurses who provide culturally competent nurs-
ing hold the potential to improve the quality of care and improve patient
satisfaction, therefore leading to better health outcomes for culturally di-
verse groups (Gallagher & Polanin, 2015; Waite & Calamaro, 2010). In Slovenia,
the effect of culturally competent nursing on the quality of care for patients
from culturally diverse groups has never been systematically reviewed. On
the other hand, some foreign studies have evaluated the effects of training
interventions in cultural competence. The learning activities and length of
the interventions varied, and the most common target learners were nurs-
ing and medical students (Beach et al., 2005; Peña Dolhun, Muñoz, & Grum-
bach, 2003; Price et al., 2005). Further, scientific evidence suggests a signifi-
cant correlation between the cultural and linguistic competencies of health-
care providers and improved patient nursing outcomes (Betancourt, Green,
Carrillo, & Ananeh-Firempong, 2003).
What emerges from the literature is training in cultural competence may
be an effective way to support nurses in their clinical work and therefore an
important area to study. For these reasons, this systematic review aimed to
evaluate the literature on the ways effective cultural competence training for
nurses improves cultural competency and determine whether professionals
undergoing such training increased the quality of their care given to patients
from culturally diverse groups.
Methodology
A systematic literature review was conducted to address the question: ‘How
effective is non-formal training for nurses on culturally competent healthcare
for improving the quality of care for patients from culturally diverse groups?’
Search Strategy
A review of the literature was conducted in May 2018 to identify available
evidence on how culturally competent nursing impacts the quality of care
175
healthcare paradigm commits healthcare organisations, institutions and pro-
fessionals to understand and respect cultural differences, and adjust their
care accordingly. The leading concept of cultural competence in healthcare
integrates three fundamental components: linguistic competence, work-
force diversity, and workforce cultural competence (Baldwin, 2003; Gallagher
& Polanin, 2015). At this point, we can conclude that cultural competency is
a broad concept used to describe a variety of interventions that aim to im-
prove the accessibility and effectiveness of healthcare services for people
from culturally diverse groups (Truong et al., 2014).
Today, it is well known that nurses who provide culturally competent nurs-
ing hold the potential to improve the quality of care and improve patient
satisfaction, therefore leading to better health outcomes for culturally di-
verse groups (Gallagher & Polanin, 2015; Waite & Calamaro, 2010). In Slovenia,
the effect of culturally competent nursing on the quality of care for patients
from culturally diverse groups has never been systematically reviewed. On
the other hand, some foreign studies have evaluated the effects of training
interventions in cultural competence. The learning activities and length of
the interventions varied, and the most common target learners were nurs-
ing and medical students (Beach et al., 2005; Peña Dolhun, Muñoz, & Grum-
bach, 2003; Price et al., 2005). Further, scientific evidence suggests a signifi-
cant correlation between the cultural and linguistic competencies of health-
care providers and improved patient nursing outcomes (Betancourt, Green,
Carrillo, & Ananeh-Firempong, 2003).
What emerges from the literature is training in cultural competence may
be an effective way to support nurses in their clinical work and therefore an
important area to study. For these reasons, this systematic review aimed to
evaluate the literature on the ways effective cultural competence training for
nurses improves cultural competency and determine whether professionals
undergoing such training increased the quality of their care given to patients
from culturally diverse groups.
Methodology
A systematic literature review was conducted to address the question: ‘How
effective is non-formal training for nurses on culturally competent healthcare
for improving the quality of care for patients from culturally diverse groups?’
Search Strategy
A review of the literature was conducted in May 2018 to identify available
evidence on how culturally competent nursing impacts the quality of care
175
