The Impact of an Evidence-Based Cultural Competence Workshop for University Student Health Centers’ Licensed Personnel

Abstract

The lack of cultural competence (CC) by health care personnel (HCP) has been identified as a barrier to equitable care. In a closed environment, such as a university setting where all students have health care access, disparities persist. Literature reveals racial/ethnic minority groups are impacted by health care disparities and suffer unnecessarily. Culturally competent care can help mitigate health care disparities. The American College Health Association (ACHA, 2011) recommends CC training for HCP who affect student health outcomes.

This quasi-experimental pre/post project examined the impact of an in-person, evidence-based, CC workshop on CC scores of university student health centers’ licensed HCP. Secondary aims (1) compared CC scores between demographic groups; (2) evaluated the workshop format; and (3) appraised facilitators and barriers to implementation of CC skills addressed in the workshop.

Participants included nurses, nurse practitioners, and physicians from three university student health centers. A one-hour CC workshop was conducted at each site. Demographics and the Inventory for Assessing Process of Cultural Care-Revised© (IAPCC-R©) were completed in hardcopy before the workshop. One week after the workshop, the IAPCC-R© and workshop evaluation were completed electronically. Six weeks after the workshop, the facilitators and barriers to implementation survey was completed electronically.

Mean total IAPCC-R© scores rose from 70.84 to 78.21 (p

HCP must explore CC to deliver equitable health care. Policy implications involve HCP in student health centers participating in yearly CC training. Educational implications include embedding CC in curriculum for the personnel affecting student health outcomes. Future research should examine CC levels of university HCP and its relationship to student satisfaction ratings.