Assessing Health Professional Students' Cultural Competence Using a Global Perspective

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Cultural Competence Research
• Global Health Perspectives

Background:

• The U.S. is increasingly diverse, necessitating a global perspective in healthcare.
• Cultural competence is crucial for effective healthcare delivery in diverse societies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess cultural competence levels of health science students.
• To compare cultural competence between entering and exiting students across programs.
• To utilize the Global Worldview Cultural Competence Survey (GWCCS) for assessment.

Main Methods:

• 196 health science students (138 entering, 58 exiting) participated.
• Two cohorts completed the GWCCS: one at program entry, one post-clinical experience.
• Data from usable surveys were analyzed to compare scores.

Main Results:

• Exiting health science students demonstrated significantly higher cultural competence than entering students.
• A notable difference in Global Worldview Cultural Competence Survey (GWCCS) scores was observed.
• The study identified a positive trend in cultural competence development.

Conclusions:

• Health science students' cultural competence increases during their academic and clinical training.
• While improvement was noted, neither entering nor exiting students reached a proficiency level.
• Further curriculum enhancement may be needed to foster advanced cultural competence.