Perceptions of and preparedness for cross-cultural care: a survey of final-year medical students in Ireland

• Published in: BMC medical education 2024-04, Vol.24 (1), p.472-472, Article 472
• Main Authors: O'Brien, Lesley, Wassall, Nicola, Cadoret, Danielle, Petrović, Aleksandra, O'Donnell, Patrick, Neville, Siobhán
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Attitudes; Basic Skills; Beliefs; Beliefs, opinions and attitudes; Clinical Competence; Communication Skills; Competence; Confidentiality; Cross-cultural care; Cultural Awareness; Cultural competence; Cultural competency; Cultural Competency - education; Cultural Differences; Culturally Competent Care; Curricula; Curriculum; Education; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; Ethnic Groups; Ethnicity; Evaluation; Female; Gender; Gender Differences; Gender Discrimination; Health disparities; Health Services; Humans; Intercultural communication; Ireland; Male; Medical colleges; Medical education; Medical schools; Medical students; Medicine; Minority & ethnic groups; National Standards; Online Surveys; Patient-centered care; Patients; Pilot projects; Preparedness; Skills; Social Media; Social networks; Social Services; Sociocultural factors; Student Attitudes; Students, Medical - psychology; Surveys; Surveys and Questionnaires; Training; Trust (Psychology); Young Adult
• ISSN: 1472-6920; 1472-6920
• DOI: 10.1186/s12909-024-05392-4

Migration is increasing globally, and societies are becoming more diverse and multi-ethnic. Medical school curricula should prepare students to provide high-quality care to all individuals in the communities they serve. Previous research from North America and Asia has assessed the effectiveness of medical cultural competency training, and student preparedness for delivery of cross-cultural care. However, student preparedness has not been explored in the European context. The aim of this study was to investigate how prepared final-year medical students in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) feel to provide care to patients from other countries, cultures, and ethnicities. In addition, this study aims to explore students' experiences and perceptions of cross-cultural care. Final-year medical students attending all six medical schools within the ROI were invited to participate in this study. A modified version of the Harvard Cross-Cultural Care Survey (CCCS) was used to assess their preparedness, skill, training/education, and attitudes. The data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 28.0, and Fisher's Exact Test was employed to compare differences within self-identified ethnicity groups and gender. Whilst most respondents felt prepared to care for patients in general (80.5%), many felt unprepared to care for specific ethnic patient cohorts, including patients from a minority ethnic background (50.7%) and the Irish Traveller Community (46.8%). Only 20.8% of final-year students felt they had received training in cross-cultural care during their time in medical school. Most respondents agreed that they should be assessed specifically on skills in cultural competence whilst in medical school (83.2%). A large proportion of final-year medical students surveyed in Ireland feel inadequately prepared to care for ethnically diverse patients. Similarly, they report feeling unskilled in core areas of cross-cultural care, and a majority agree that they should be assessed on aspects of cultural competency. This study explores shortcomings in cultural competency training and confidence amongst Irish medical students. These findings have implications for future research and curricular change, with opportunities for the development of relevant educational initiatives in Irish medical schools.