Relationship between Cultural Sensitivity and Self-Determination (Assertiveness) in Nursing Students

INTRODUCTION: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between cultural sensitivity and self-determination in nursing students.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a university in one of Turkey’s border provinces. The study sample consisted of 248 nursing students. Data were collected by using the descriptive information form, which included sociodemographic and sociocultural characteristics, Intercultural Sensitivity Scale and Self-Determination (Assertiveness) Scale. Data evaluated using descriptive statistics, dependent groups t-test, One-way analysis of variance (One-way ANOVA), Tukey HSD test and correlation analysis.
RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 21.05 ± 2.03 and 62.9% were female. 44.8% of the students speak foreign languages, 27.8% go to different countries, 50% communicate with people from different countries through social media, 58.1% follow the mass media of different countries, 56.5% of patients from different cultures nursing and 41.9% reported that they provided information, health education or counseling to patients and healthy individuals from different cultures. The students scored 83.30 ± 19.40 for Intercultural Sensitivity Scale and 96.83 ± 15.24 for Self-Determination (Assertiveness) Scale. Many socioeconomic and sociocultural factors affecting students’ cultural sensitivity and assertiveness were identified. It was concluded that students’ cultural sensitivity was positively correlated with confidence while shyness was negatively correlated with moderate level (P <.001).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In the study, it was determined that students had moderate cultural sensitivity and assertiveness levels. Self-confident nursing students had higher cultural sensitivity. It was concluded that educating the students as individuals with high self-confidence during nursing education will contribute to providing patient-specific and culture-sensitive care.