The Spanish version of the Cultural Competence Assessment (CCA-S): Transcultural validation study and proposed refinement

Abstract

Background: Cultural competence (CC) is becoming an essential component of healthcare professionals. There is a gap in the research evaluating CC in order to develop competency-based approach programs. Spain has become a multicultural society and it is necessary to evaluate and promote CC attitudes to reduce the disparity of care for vulnerable and minority groups.

Objectives: To adapt and validate the Cultural Competence Assessment (CCA) of Schim et al. (2003), to get evidence-based data of CC in Spanish healthcare professionals.

Method: A process of translation/back-translation and cultural adaptation was carried out in accordance with international standards. An on-line cross-sectional survey questionnaire was used. Statistical and metrical analysis was based in a sample of 568 healthcare professionals who worked daily with patients in a health care institution in South Catalonia in 2018.

Results: The results of the exploratory factorial analysis and subsequent confirmatory analysis showed that the data had an adequate fit for a four-factor model. The reliability analysis results confirm an acceptable consistency for each subscale: active behaviour (0.86), seeking information (0.86), awareness (0,94), and sensitivity (0.69). ANOVA showed no differences between healthcare professionals, age and gender. The scores showed a normal distribution and it was proposed a standardization of scores.

Conclusions: The translation and transcultural-validation process of the CCA resulted in a Spanish-language for the 25 items, like the original. The psychometric analysis proved that the Spanish version is a reliable and valid instrument. This scale is going to be useful to analyze healthcare professional's attitudes to create effectiveness training programs focused on specific needs. The four-factor model and the standardization of the scores will be useful to achieve future objectives about research in cultural competence in healthcare professionals.

Keywords: Cultural competence; Healthcare professionals; Measurement; Minority groups; Psychometrical study; Scale; Transcultural.