PERCEIVED INFLUENCE OF CULTURAL COMPETENCE ON QUALITY OF PATIENTS CARE AMONG INTERN NURSES IN A TERTIARY HEALTH INSTITUTION IN BENIN CITY.

Abstract

Cultural competence in healthcare is essential for quality patient-centered care, particularly in multicultural settings. Intern nurses, as frontline caregivers, must develop the ability to recognize and address cultural differences to enhance patient outcomes and satisfaction. This study assessed cultural competence among intern nurses at a tertiary hospital in Benin City, Nigeria, and its impact on patient care. Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, 124 intern nurses were selected through convenience sampling. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 27.0. Results showed that 94% of intern nurses exhibited positive cultural competence, with strengths in sensitivity to cultural differences (44.4% strongly agreed) and knowledge of cultural practices (38.7% strongly agreed). Key factors influencing competence included training (54% strongly agreed) and clinical experience (47.6% strongly agreed), while only 15.3% credited diverse patient populations for improving their competence. Cultural competence significantly impacted patient care, with 83.1% recognizing family involvement in medical decisions and 81.5% supporting language accommodations. However, hypothesis testing revealed no significant relationship between cultural competence levels and socio-demographic characteristics (p > 0.05). In conclusion, while intern nurses demonstrated commendable cultural competence, enhancing training programs could further improve culturally sensitive care practices. Keywords: Perceived influence, Cultural competence, Quality, Patient, care, Intern nurses, Tertiary health institution