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. 2024 Jun 15;24(1):663.
doi: 10.1186/s12909-024-05646-1.

Cultural competences among future nurses and midwives: a case of attitudes toward Jehovah's witnesses' stance on blood transfusion

Jan Domaradzki #  1 , Katarzyna Głodowska  2 , Einat Doron  3 , Natalia Markwitz-Grzyb  2 , Piotr Jabkowski #  4
Affiliations

Cultural competences among future nurses and midwives: a case of attitudes toward Jehovah's witnesses' stance on blood transfusion

Jan Domaradzki et al. BMC Med Educ. .

Abstract

Background: Transcultural nursing recognises the significance of cultural backgrounds in providing patients with quality care. This study investigates the opinions of master's students in nursing and midwifery regarding the attitudes of Jehovah's Witnesses towards refusing blood transfusions.

Methods: 349 master's students in nursing and midwifery participated in a quantitative study and were surveyed via the Web to evaluate their awareness of the stance of Jehovah's Witnesses on blood transfusions and the ethical and legal dilemmas associated with caring for Jehovah's Witness (JW) patients.

Results: The study yielded three significant findings. It unequivocally demonstrates that nursing and midwifery students possess inadequate knowledge regarding Jehovah's Witnesses' stance on blood transfusions and their acceptance of specific blood products and medical procedures. Despite being cognisant of the ethical and legal dilemmas of caring for JW patients, students lack an understanding of patients' autonomy to reject blood transfusions and their need for bloodless medicine. Students also articulated educational needs regarding cultural competencies regarding the Jehovah's Witnesses' beliefs on blood transfusions and non-blood management techniques.

Conclusions: Healthcare professionals need the knowledge and skills necessary to provide holistic, patient-centred and culturally sensitive care. This study emphasises the urgent need for university curricula and nursing postgraduate training to include modules on transcultural nursing and strategies for minimising blood loss.

Keywords: Blood transfusion; Cultural competences; Jehovah’s witnesses; Knowledge and attitudes; Midwifery students; Nursing students; transcultural nursing.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Histograms and correlation plots for indexes of students’ knowledge on JWs’ stand toward blood transfusions
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Students’ dilemmas related to JW’s stance toward blood transfusions
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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