Cultural Attitudes, Knowledge, and Skills of a Health Workforce

Abstract

This study describes cultural attitudes, knowledge, and skill of 409 health care workers using the Ethnic Attitude Scale, the Cultural Self-Efficacy Scale, and a demographic inventory. Findings suggest cultural knowledge and educational preparation of the health worker may influence cultural skills. Workers that were most confident in their cultural skills in working with other cultural groups were more confident in knowledge of cultural concepts and had higher education levels. The results also suggest gaps in workers’ knowledge of other cultures and how to care for them in culturally sensitive ways. Educational interventions may enhance workers’ knowledge. Whether such enhanced knowledge yields improved patient care outcomes remains to be answered. © 2004, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.