Cultural Competence and Cultural Sensitivity Education in University Nursing Courses. A Scoping Review

Front Psychol. 2021 Sep 29:12:682920. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.682920. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

When assessing the fragility that characterizes the health of an immigrant person, a culturally competent transformation of the nurse-patient teaching-learning process is necessary. Therefore, it is considered essential to incorporate cultural competence and intercultural communication in higher nursing education.

Objective: To determine the content and knowledge of cultural competence and intercultural communication offered in higher education in nursing courses.

Design: The Campinha-Bacote model of cultural competence was used as the primary reference.

Method: A scoping review was conducted about studies published in the period 2003 and 2020. The research was conducted between May and October 2020. More than a hundred documents (books, chapters, articles, conference proceedings) have been consulted.

Results: Undergraduate nursing courses and postgraduate education move toward promoting cultural competence and sensitivity through teaching strategies.

Conclusions: Teaching projects that combine multiple competencies are more effective, including teacher training. A predominant element is a need for continuous and transversal projects. University nursing education must adapt culturally competent curricula.

Keywords: cultural competence; cultural sensitivity; education; health; nurses.

Publication types

  • Review