Date of Award

6-2014

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

Dr. Rosemary McCaslin, Research Coordinator, M.S.W

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine cultural competence among oncology health care providers. Specifically, the study assessed how career type, presence of previous diversity training, and education affected overall cultural competence of oncology health care providers.

The study used a quantitative survey design with self-administered questionnaires. A total of 36 voluntary oncology health care providers completed the cultural competence assessment survey. Participants were asked of their cultural awareness/sensitivity, cultural behaviors, previous experiences of diversity trainings, and some demographics questions. Descriptive (e.g. mean, frequency distributions) and inferential (e.g. t-test, one-way analysis of variance) statistics were used to analyze the data.

Findings of the study showed that the levels of cultural competence among oncology health care providers were low to moderate. Oncology health care providers who were social workers and registered nurses tended to report more frequent culturally competent behaviors, compared to other career types of health care providers. The study also found that those who had specific previous diversity training tended to report higher levels of cultural competence compared to those who did not have those diversity trainings. Findings of the study suggest that there be a need for improvement in the cultural competency practice among oncology health care providers. The results of this study could serve as a reference in the initial evaluation of exploring cultural competency health care practice in the specialization of oncology.

Included in

Social Work Commons

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