Assessing the Impact of Cultural Sensitivity Training on Nursing Care Delivery in Multicultural Settings

Posted: Jun 28, 2021

• Naomi Garcia
• Phoebe Armstrong
• Desmond Pratt

Abstract

The increasing cultural diversity of patient populations presents both opportunities and challenges for contemporary healthcare delivery systems. Traditional approaches to cultural competence training in nursing have often emphasized factual knowledge about specific cultural groups, yet emerging evidence suggests that this approach may be insufficient for addressing the complex, dynamic nature of cross-cultural care encounters. This research responds to the critical need for more effective training methodologies that prepare nurses to navigate the nuanced landscape of multicultural healthcare settings. Our study introduces a paradigm shift in cultural sensitivity training by moving beyond static cultural knowledge toward developing adaptive intercultural capabilities. The theoretical foundation of our approach integrates concepts from intercultural communication theory, which emphasizes the co-construction of meaning across cultural boundaries, with principles from cognitive psychology that address the modification of implicit biases and the development of cultural metacognition. This interdisciplinary framework represents a significant departure from conventional cultural competence models and offers a more psychologically sophisticated understanding of how nurses develop the capacity for culturally responsive care. The primary research questions guiding this investigation were: How does an immersive, psychologically-informed cultural sensitivity training program affect nurses' self-efficacy in cross-cultural care situations? What measurable impact does such training have on patient-reported outcomes and quality of care indicators? To what extent does the training influence nurses' ability to recognize and adapt to subtle cultural cues in real-time clinical interactions? These questions address critical gaps in the existing literature by focusing on the developmental processes through which cultural sensitivity competencies are acquired and manifested in actual care delivery.