Cultural desire need not improve with cultural knowledge : A cross-sectional study of student nurses
- Authors: Isaacs, Anton , Raymond, Anita , Jacob, Elisabeth , Jones, Janet , McGrail, Matthew , Drysdale, Marlene
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nurse Education in Practice Vol. 19, no. (2016), p. 91-96
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Cultural desire is considered to be a prerequisite for developing cultural competence. This study explored cultural desire among student nurses towards Aboriginal peoples and its association with participation in a one-semester unit on Aboriginal health through a cross-sectional survey. Our main outcome, cultural desire, was measured using two items level of agreement with Aboriginal health being an integral component of the nursing curriculum and an expressed interest in Aboriginal health. 220 (74.58%) student nurses completed the survey. Completing the Aboriginal Health and wellbeing unit did not influence students' opinions on inclusion of the unit as part of the nursing curriculum (odds ratio OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.43-1.29) or their overall cultural desire (mean difference = -0.69, 95% CI -1.29 to -0.08, p = 0.026). Students who completed the unit reported a higher understanding of Aboriginal health (OR = 2.35, 95% CI = 1.35-4.08) but lower interest levels in the subject (OR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.24-0.84). Further research is necessary to explore how and when cultural desire might develop in nurses who are trained in cultural competence particularly in the contexts of post-colonial disparities and political conflict. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd.
Exploration of nursing degree students’ content expectations of a dedicated Indigenous health unit
- Authors: Jacob, Elisabeth , Raymond, Anita , Jones, Janet , Jacob, Alycia , Drysdale, Marlene , Isaacs, Anton
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Collegian Vol. 23, no. 3 (2016), p. 313-319
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Mandatory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health units are included in all nursing education programmes in Australia to improve students’ knowledge, skills and attitudes towards Indigenous people in order to help address health inequities. This research explores content expectations of nursing students required to undertake Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health studies as part of a Bachelor of Nursing Degree at a rural university campus. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken to examine students’ opinions of course content of an Aboriginal health and wellbeing unit. Two hundred and ninety-four students across the three years of the degree were asked to complete the anonymous survey. Two hundred and forty-six students (83.6%) completed the survey. One hundred and thirty-nine students had completed, and 107 students were yet to undertake the unit. Qualitative content analysis of an open-ended survey question was used to interrogate the data. Four themes emerged from the data: cultural competence, disease implications and management, nursing care and other issues. Content expectations were consistent for students who were yet to undertake (pre) or had completed (post) the unit. Content expectations included Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture (pre 30.4%–post 29.8%), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues (pre 20.0%–post 23.7%) and understanding nursing care related issues (pre 15.7%–post 17.1%). Data findings were significant for enhancing the current unit. Students express the need for a safe learning environment in which to challenge beliefs and opinions. Course facilitators need to be sensitive to student populations and include content relevant to the programme being studied. Cultural immersion experiences may improve confidence in nursing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. © 2015 Australian College of Nursing Ltd