Perception of Cultural Competence Among Physiotherapy Students in Bangalore, Karnataka

Abstract

Background: Cultural Competence is defined as having sensitivity towards different cultural groups, this includes awareness of the effect of factors such as immigration, stress, perceived lack of harmony in a person's life, language barriers, myths, taboos, and the potential for these factors to enhance or inhibit professional practice. Physiotherapy students are in the need to possess a high level of cultural competence to provide health care to patients from various cultural backgrounds. As it emphasis the importance of culturally competent practice as well as enhances health outcome and lowers health disparities.

Aim Of Study: “To study the awareness and knowledge of cultural competence among physiotherapy students in Bangalore, Karnataka”.

Methodology: with a sample size of 200, a set of question were prepared by the investigators and data is collected using structured interview method where a set of closed ended questions were asked to the first year and second year physiotherapy students.

Results: The principal findings revealed that out of 200 students, majority of physiotherapy students strongly agreed to the statement that “Culture is not external but is within the person” and majority of students had very limited knowledge in understanding the way they think and act when interacting with their peer of different cultural background.

Conclusion: This study concluded that it will be of great value if multicultural education interventions are included in the curriculums of undergraduate physiotherapy students to prevent health care disparities.