6.7.1 Identifying the core components of cultural competence using the Delphi technique (37)
Maria Jirwe, Lecturer, PhD student, Department of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden Co authors: Sinead Keeney, Kate Gerrish & Azita Emami maria.jirwe@ki.se
Abstract:
Background:
The multi-cultural diversity in Sweden raises challenges for preparation of nurses. Nurses need to be culturally competent, i.e. demonstrate the effective application of knowledge, skills, attitudes and judgement to practice safely and effectively in a multi-cultural society (Gerrish, Husband, & Mackenzie, 1996). Existing models of cultural competence reflect the socio-cultural, historical and political context in which they have been developed (Jirwe, Gerrish, & Emami, 2006). To date, there has been no research examining cultural competence within a Swedish context.
Aim:
To identify the core components of cultural competence from a Swedish perspective using the Delphi technique.
Methodology:
The Delphi technique is as an iterative process which provides the opportunity to reach consensus within a group of ‘experts’ (Keeney, Hasson, & McKenna, 2001). A purposeful sample of 24 experts; 8 researchers, 8 lecturers and 8 practising nurses, knowledgeable in multicultural issues, was recruited. Individual semi-structured interviews were used to identify the knowledge, skills and attributes that experts considered formed the core components of cultural competence. The content analysis yielded 143 core components which formed the basis of a questionnaire used in the next round. Respondents scored each item in terms of perceived importance. Statements which reached consensus in each round were removed from questionnaires used in subsequent rounds. In total 3 rounds of questionnaires were sent to the experts during 2006.
Results:
After three rounds, 131 components had reached the predetermined consensus level at 75%. The components were categorized into 5 areas; cultural sensitivity, cultural knowledge and understanding, cultural encounters, understanding of health and healthcare, and social and cultural contexts.
Conclusion:
The core components of cultural competence identify the knowledge, skills and attributes which should be taught in nursing education to prepare nurses for work in a multicultural society.
Recommended reading list:
- Gerrish, K., Husband, C., & Mackenzie, J. (1996). Nursing for a multi-ethnic society. Buckingham: Open University Press
- Jirwe, M., Gerrish, K., & Emami, A. (2006). The theoretical framework of cultural competence. Journal of Multicultural Nursing & Health, 12(3), 6-16
- Keeney, S., Hasson, F., & McKenna, H. P. (2001). A critical review of the Delphi technique as a research methodology for nursing. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 38(2), 195-200
Source of Funding: Non UK
Amount in Funding: 10,001 - 50,000
Biography:
I have been a registered nurse since 1987 and specialist in intensive care since 1990. I have mainly been working in the children’s ICU. I took my master exam in nursing 2002. I have been a lecture at the Division of Nursing at Karolinska Institutet since 2000 predominantly in the specialist nursing program for intensive care nurses. I am involved in the development of the curricula at the division of nursing, concerning transcultural nursing/cultural competence. I have during the past two years conducted research in the transcultural nursing area, mainly focusing on cultural competence and I am since April 2005 registered as a doctoral student at the division of nursing, Karolinska Institutet.