6th Edition of World Nursing Science Conference 2026

Abstract

Background: Racial and ethnic minority patients in maternal–infant healthcare settings continue to experience disparities in care quality, communication, and overall patient experience. These disparities are often influenced by culturally incongruent care practices and implicit bias, underscoring the need for culturally responsive nursing interventions. Traditional cultural competency education, frequently delivered through one-time online modules, has demonstrated limited effectiveness in producing sustained behavioral change at the bedside. Purpose: This quality improvement (QI) project evaluated the impact of a nurse-focused, peer-to-peer cultural competency education program on nurses’ cultural knowledge, skills, and relational communication behaviors, with the goal of improving patient experience outcomes among minority populations. Methods: Guided by the Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) framework and the Purnell Model for Cultural Competence, the intervention consisted of three peer-led educational sessions incorporating case-based learning, reflective dialogue, and discussion of culturally responsive care practices. Pre- and post-intervention cultural competency was measured using the Clinical Cultural Competency Questionnaire (CCCQ-PRE-R). Nurse-sensitive patient experience outcomes were assessed using selected items from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey. Results: Among participants (N = 23), statistically significant improvements were observed in 18 of 41 cultural competency items (43.9%), with the greatest gains in the comfort domain related to cross-cultural communication and bias awareness. HCAHPS scores among minority patients demonstrated improvement in perceived courtesy and respect (89.8% to 92.9%), while communication clarity and listening domains showed variability.
Conclusions: Peer-to-peer, theory-based cultural competency interventions may enhance nurses’ relational communication behaviors and improve patient experience outcomes. Sustained implementation strategies are needed to reduce variability and support equitable, culturally responsive maternal–infant care.