Major Articles

Constructivism in Cultural Competence Education

Jennifer L. Hunter, PhD; Steven Krantz, PhD

  • Journal of Nursing Education
  • April 2010 - Volume 49 · Issue 4: 207-214
  • DOI: 10.3928/01484834-20100115-06
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Abstract

A graduate course on cultural diversity, based in constructivist theory and structured on the Process of Cultural Competence in the Delivery of Healthcare Services model, was developed and taught through classroom and online methods. The following research questions were explored: 1) Can an educational experience, built on constructivist learning theory tenets, change students’ perceptions, attitudes, knowledge, and skills in the area of cultural competence? 2) Does the delivery method, online or traditional classroom, influence the degree of change? The study used a quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest control group design using the Inventory for Assessing the Process of Cultural Competence Among Healthcare Professionals Revised. Findings showed significant changes (p < 0.001) in cultural competence scores and subscores for all learners with both teaching modalities based on interval scale and in categories of cultural knowledge, skill, desire, and overall competence based on a nominal scale. The untaught construct of cultural desire showed the most significant improvement.

AUTHORS

Dr. Hunter and Dr. Krantz are Associate Professors, School of Nursing, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri.

Address correspondence to Jennifer L. Hunter, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Nursing, 2464 Charlotte, Kansas City, MI 64108; e-mail: hunter@umkc.edu

doi: 10.3928/01484834-20100115-06

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