The impact of service-learning on cultural competence

Nurs Educ Perspect. 2010 Jan-Feb;31(1):18-22.

Abstract

Service-learning provides an excellent pedagogy for introducing students to clients of different cultural backgrounds, helping students become aware of the issues these clients face related to culture and health care, and teaching culturally appropriate care. The Transcultural Self-Efficacy Tool was used to evaluate self-perceived cultural competence in a convenience sample of 60 baccalaureate nursing students enrolled in a community health nursing course following the completion of service-learning projects with local and international communities. Pre- and posttests were analyzed based on total scores and subscale (cognitive, practical, and affective) scores. A paired-samples t test compared the mean pretest total score to the mean posttest total score, which demonstrated a significant increase. In addition, paired-samples t tests demonstrated a significant increase in each subscale.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Clinical Competence*
  • Community Health Nursing / education*
  • Cultural Competency / education*
  • Cultural Competency / psychology
  • Cultural Diversity
  • Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / organization & administration*
  • Female
  • Guatemala
  • Humans
  • International Educational Exchange
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Nursing Education Research
  • Program Evaluation
  • Self Efficacy
  • South Carolina
  • Students, Nursing / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Transcultural Nursing / education