The Effect of Intercultural Nursing Training on Nursing Students’ Intercultural Sensitivity and Empathic Tendency Level: Randomised Controlled Trial

Abstract

This research was planned in randomized controlled trial in order to reveal the effect of intercultural nursing training on cultural sensitivity and empathic tendency level among nursing students. 120 students were included in the sample group. Students in the study group attended in intercultural nursing training 2 hours a week for 8 weeks. There was no application for the students in the control group. Descriptive statistics, independent and dependent t tests were used to appraise the data. It was observed in the study that before the training, the cultural sensitivity total score of both control and training groups was at moderate level. After training: the total Empathic Tendency Scale score of the training group was higher than the control group's and the training group's total scores for Intercultural Sensitivity Scale, subdimensions regarding interaction engagement and attentiveness, and respect for cultural difference were higher than the control group. The results of the research showed that intercultural training was effective in increasing the intercultural sensitivity and empathic tendency level and enabling the students to acquire empathy skills. As a result, it has been observed that intercultural training is effective on students' gaining empathy skills.