[Effects of a multicultural education program on the cultural competence, empathy and self-efficacy of nursing students]

Abstract

Purpose: This study was done to examine the effects of a multicultural education program on nursing students' cultural competence, empathy, and self-efficacy.

Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, the participants were assigned to an experimental group (n=40) or a control group (n=40). The data were analyzed using independent t-test, Chi-square or Fisher's exact test, and paired t-test with the SPSS windows 18.0 program.

Results: After receiving the multicultural education program, the levels of cultural competence and self-efficacy in the experimental group were higher than in the control group. The level of empathy increased slightly in the experimental group while it decreased in the control group.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that multicultural education is effective in raising the level of cultural competence and self-efficacy in nursing students. Thus, there is a need for continuous effort to integrate multicultural education programs in the nursing curriculum. Repeated study to test effects of these multicultural education programs should be also necessary.

Keywords: Cultural competence; Culture; Empathy; Self-efficacy.