| Cultural competence is known to be an important proxy of quality of health care. To date, few studies have examined the impact that computer-based training methods have on the cultural competence of practitioners as indicated by patient satisfaction with interpersonal communications. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that predict self-assessed and actual cultural competency of practitioners and patient satisfaction with cross-cultural interactions.;Relationships between patient satisfaction with interaction, patient perceived cultural competency of the provider, actual and self-assessed level of cultural competency of the provider, frequency of participation in a computer-based, annual cultural-competency review program, and demographic characteristics of 155 practitioners and 465 patients were assessed.;A correlation analysis of actual assessments of cultural competence and average self-assessment scores showed a modest, relationship, r=.25, p<.05. Self-perceived cultural competence of the practitioners proved not to be a good predictor of patient satisfaction, X 2 (4, N=465)=1.99, p>.05. Multiple linear and logistic regressions analyses revealed that: Nurses scored highest on actual cultural competence tests by an average of 1.65 points compared to other practitioners' p<.05. Additionally, two out of three patients gave higher satisfaction scores to practitioners with an education at Associate degree level or less compared to the higher educated practitioners, OR 0.67, 95%CI (0.44, 1.03). Finally, practitioners' repeated participation in one and the same cultural competency program had no consequence on their self-perceived cultural competency, Spearman's rho (155)=.03, p>.05, or actual cultural competency scores Pearson correlation r=.104, p>.05, and also had no effect on patients' scores regarding their satisfaction with cross-cultural interaction Spearman's rho(465)=.04, p>.05. |
