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. 2022 Jul 9;22(1):534.
doi: 10.1186/s12909-022-03588-0.

Assessing medical students' perception of cross-cultural competence at a private University in Karachi

Fatima Syed Amanullah  1 , Adil Al-Karim Manji  1 , Bilal Ahmed Usmani  2   3 , Muhammad Muntazir Mehdi Khan  1 , Hadia Sohail  1 , Muhammad Haris Zahid  1 , Meryum Ishrat Baig  1 , Inara Merani  1 , Shehryar Ali Larik  1 , Shahmeer Raza Khan  1 , Syeda Ramlah Tul Sania  1
Affiliations

Assessing medical students' perception of cross-cultural competence at a private University in Karachi

Fatima Syed Amanullah et al. BMC Med Educ. .

Abstract

Background: Cross-cultural competence is widely regarded to play an important role in being able to deliver appropriate and effective health care to patients with different backgrounds, race, gender orientation and cultural beliefs. This study aims to assess how medical students feel about their comfort, knowledge, and skill level in handling a diverse patient population using a validated questionnaire.

Methods: This study was carried out over a period of three weeks from July 5th to July 26th of 2021, in the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. All medical students who fulfilled the eligibility criteria and gave informed consent were included in the study. A modified version of the Harvard cross-cultural care survey was used to assess the medical students' comfort, knowledge and skill level in a variety of circumstances related to patients with different backgrounds and cultures. Descriptive statistical analysis of the questionnaire items was carried out. We reported frequencies and percentages for gender and year of study. For the questionnaire items, we reported mean, assuming that our Likert scale had equivariant intervals. Furthermore, multivariate analysis between demographics and themes was carried out. A p-value of < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.

Results: It was found that students of year 5 considered themselves more knowledgeable, comfortable and skilled in dealing with patients of different backgrounds, religions and beliefs compared to students of year 1 and had a higher average score in all of these categories which was statistically significant. Additionally, students who believed it is extremely important to practice medicine with a diverse patient population also had the highest averages in perceived knowledge, comfort and skills in dealing with patients of different sociocultural backgrounds compared to students who believed it wasn't important at all.

Conclusion: This is a first of its kind study in a private medical university in Pakistan and highlights the students' self-assessment of their competence when caring for patients from different backgrounds. This study can be used as a reference study in the region to carry out further studies and to assess and improve the gaps in medical training being provided.

Keywords: Comfort; Cross-cultural competence; Diversity; Knowledge; Medical education; Skills; Students.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Gender distribution of participants
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Fig. 2
Year of study of participants
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Students’ perceived knowledge regarding patients’ sociocultural background according to year of study
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Students’ perceived skill regarding patients’ sociocultural background according to year of study
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Students’ perceived comfort regarding patients’ sociocultural background according to year of study
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Comparing student origin with perceived knowledge, comfort and skills
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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