Cultural Competence in Private Hospital Nurses: The Role of Digital Health Literacy and Cultural Intelligence – A Cross-Sectional Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
As patient populations become more diverse, nurses must develop cultural competence to provide effective and equitable care.
Objective:
To examine the predictors of cultural competence among nurses, specifically investigating the roles of digital health literacy (DHL) and cultural intelligence, and to assess how demographic factors, competence levels, and eHealth literacy relate to culturally competent behaviors.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 296 nurses in a private hospital in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected utilizing validated instruments to assess eHealth literacy, cultural intelligence, and cultural competence. Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, Pearson correlations, and hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were performed using SPSS to evaluate the associations and predictors of cultural competence.
Results:
Among a sample of 296 nurses, cultural intelligence was identified at a moderate level, with 35.8% of participants exhibiting this trait. In contrast, over half of the participants demonstrated low eHealth literacy, accounting for 53.4% of the sample. The majority of the nurses displayed moderate cultural competence, with a prevalence of 65.9%. Education emerged as the sole demographic factor significantly associated with cultural competence, as individuals holding a Bachelor of Science degree scored higher than those with a diploma (p = .003). Furthermore, cultural intelligence and eHealth literacy displayed a strong positive correlation with cultural competence (p < .001). Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that both cultural intelligence and eHealth literacy were significant predictors of cultural competence, collectively accounting for 47.7% of the variance in this construct.
Conclusions:
Cultural competence among nurses is predominantly influenced by cultural intelligence and eHealth literacy, rather than by most demographic variables. Consequently, enhancing DHL and cultural intelligence may strengthen culturally competent practice. It is recommended that targeted educational and professional development interventions be implemented to elevate competence levels and support high-quality patient care in diverse healthcare environments. Clinical Trial: N/A
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