Student perceptions of cultural competence content in the curriculum

The 31-item Blueprint for Integration of Cultural Competence in the Curriculum (BICCC) was used as an organizing framework and an evaluative tool to survey student perceptions of inclusion of cultural-specific content in undergraduate and graduate courses. Quantitative and qualitative data were used to complete this survey, which provided definitive information about the strengths and deficiencies of the curriculum initiative. Findings show that faculty made considerable progress with the curriculum integrative efforts. With responses of sometimes to quite often on the BICCC survey, 90% of the master's, 87% of senior, and 25% of first-semester freshmen participants reported a sufficient level of teaching in response to the survey items on aspects of culture and health. For all cohorts, the survey showed that content related to critique of health disparities research and theoretical formulation about culture, health, and nursing were not sufficiently addressed. Open-ended comments showed that freshmen reported a solid foundation of culturally related courses in arts and humanities courses; seniors disclosed a high level of knowledge about aspects of culture competence; and master's participants had high levels of self-awareness about values, cultural beliefs, and challenges of cross-cultural communication. The BICCC provided substantial information for faculty to address areas of omission, deficiency, and redundancy in the cultural competence education.