Intercultural Sensitivity of University Students Studying At Health-Related Departments and Some Associated Factors

Aim: This study was carried out todetermine cultural sensitivity levels and affecting factors among the studentswho were studying at health-related departments.

Method: The study had a cross-sectionaldesign. The universe of the study consisted of 1127 students who were studyingat 1st and 4th years in nursing department of institute of health sciences,school of physical therapy and rehabilitation and medical faculty of a stateuniversity. 523 students who agreed to participate in the study and who wereattending school on the day of data collection constituted the sample of thestudy. The data of the study were collected using a socio-demographic data formand Intercultural Sensitivity Scale. Descriptive statistics were used in dataanalysis. In addition, t test was used in paired groups, and one-way varianceanalysis (ANOVA) was used in more than two groups.

Results: The mean score of the studentsfrom Intercultural Sensitivity Scale was found to be 3.88±0.64. It wasdetermined that cultural sensitivity was higher among the students who hadinteraction with people from different cultures, whose opinions about theirjobs changed positively during their education, who wanted to attend studentexchange programs and who spoke a foreign language (p<0.05).

Conclusion: In this study, the culturalsensitivity level of the students was found to be at a good level. In addition,gender, interaction with people from different cultures, participation instudent exchange programs and knowledge of a foreign language were found tohave a bearing on cultural sensitivity. Based on these results, the promotionof collaborations which would create opportunities allowing students tointeract with individuals from different cultures might be offered. This wouldsupport them in the improvement of their language qualifications and wouldenable participation of more students in student exchange programs abroad.

Cite this article as: Korkmaz-Aslan, G.,Kartal, A., Turan, T., Taşdemir-Yiğitoğlu, G. ve Kayan, S. (2019).Intercultural sensitivity of university students studying at health-relateddepartments and some associated factors. FNJN Florence Nightingale Journal ofNursing, 27(2): 188-200.