Evaluation of a Hybrid Learning Module on Cultural Competence for the Postgraduate Year of Nursing Programs in Taiwan: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Cultural competence is a continuously developing process that requires transition-to-practice program training to enable new graduate nurses (NGNs) to transfer their knowledge and skills to clinical practice in a culturally sensitive manner. The development and implementation of residency programs, including a cultural competence curriculum, could support this transition. This study aimed to evaluate the preliminary effects of a hybrid learning module of cultural competence for NGNs. A quasi-experimental design was used in a 3,000-bed hospital in North Taiwan. We randomly allocated 37 NGNs to the experimental and control groups. The Cultural Competence Scale for Pre-Graduate Students to Licensed Professionals (CS-SP) was adopted to measure cultural competence before and after the intervention. We evaluated the correlations between learning time and cultural competence scores using a paired t -test, chi-square test, and Mann–Whitney test for statistical analysis. The curriculum for the learning application comprised three courses covering six topics. The experimental group scored significantly higher in awareness and skills after the intervention ( p < .05), but there was no significant improvement in knowledge or self-efficacy. The control group showed no significant differences in any of the cultural competence subscale scores after intervention. The Mann–Whitney test showed that different learning times led to significant differences in the mean cultural competence scores ( Z = 3.04, p < .05). Integrating cultural competency education into web-based NGNs’ postgraduate year of nursing programs improved their cultural competence awareness and skills. The learning application can be adapted to target NGNs at different stages of the postgraduate year of nursing programs to maximize its benefits.