Multifaceted cultural competency program

• Main Author: Taylor, Gina M
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-2013
• Subjects: Nursing
• ISBN: 1303628627; 9781303628627

The United States population is quite diverse, yet most healthcare professionals lack the knowledge to care for patients from various cultural backgrounds, which results in poor patient outcomes such as low patient satisfaction scores. The problem in today's healthcare is that healthcare providers are not adequately educated to take care of multicultural patient populations. The expected outcomes and primary purpose of this project was to improve patient outcomes such as higher patient satisfaction scores and improved cultural competency among all healthcare professionals in the hospital setting. There were thirty-five nurses and patient care technicians who participated in this program. They were given an assessment pretest, immediate posttest and three-month posttest. Paired t tests were used to analyze the comparison of the differences between scores on the knowledge tests for pretest to immediate posttest and pretest to three-month posttest. Although the differences between the tests were not statistically significant, the mean scores did increase from pretest, immediate and three-month posttest suggesting an increase in cultural knowledge among the participants. The expectation of the program is for healthcare professionals to demonstrate cultural competency in their daily interactions and the importance of how to care for a diverse patient population. It is important to address this issue now and to establish expectations since the current United States population is becoming more diverse each year. Healthcare professionals need to be respectful, sensitive and educated on cultural competency.