Cultural Sensitivity of a Group of Nursing Students’ and Attitudes Toward Refugees

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitude of nursing students in providing health care to refugees due to cultural differences and to reveal individual factors (age, gender, marital status) affecting negative attitudes. Method: This cross-sectional descriptive correlational study was conducted to determine the intercultural competence of nursing students and their attitudes toward immigrants in Turkey. The sample of the study consisted of 316 nursing students. Results: The Negative Attitude Toward Immigrants Scale scores of the participants were high, however, the intercultural competence level of the health professionals was positive. A weak negative statistically significant relationship was found the Negative Attitude Toward Immigrants Scale and the Cross-Cultural Competence of Healthcare Professionals Scale ( r = −.247, p = .000). Conclusion: Our study revealed that nursing students have negative attitudes toward immigrants, and factors such as gender and caring for patients from a different ethnic origin, discomfort in providing care impacted their attitudes.