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Abstract

Due to the diversity within the healthcare system, it is important to promote cultural competency in healthcare providers. The integration of pedagogical approaches to cultural competency into health-related programs cannot be understated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop an instrument to examine the student engagement in cultural competency-related activities within health-related degree programs and determine the relationship between engagement and cultural competency. Participants of the study included first- and fourth-year undergraduate students studying within a health-related program at a mid-sized, private university in the Midwestern US. Participants completed a cultural competency inventory questionnaire which included activities identified from prior studies that facilitated cultural competency learning. They also completed The Inventory for Assessing the Process of Cultural Competence For Healthcare Professionals -Student Version (IAPCC-SV, 2009); a measure of cultural competency. Using the exploratory factor analysis, the Cultural Learning Inventory (CLI) indicated a 4-factor construct with adequate construct detection. Overall, three of the four CLI constructs were positively associated with overall cultural competency. Further, first-year students had lower CLI and cultural competency scores compared to fourth year students. In conclusion, promoting learning activities and programs can positively impact future cultural competency in health-related professionals.

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