The impact of cultural immersion international learning experiences on cultural competence of nursing students: A critical integrative review

Matthews, Elise J.; Clune, Laurie; Luhanga, Florence; Loewen, Reny

doi:10.1016/j.profnurs.2021.07.002

Cited by 10 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…This trend reflects a growing interest in offering such learning opportunities in the context of an increasingly globalised world, and also a desire for strengthening the evidence base to enhance practice. Most studies focus on the learner, with findings across traditions indicating a positive impact on personal and professional development including global health competencies, which is in alignment with previous reviews 13–24 . Moreover, this review also provides new insights into how assumptions about what international placements should achieve vary between different scholarly communities and how these assumptions have shifted over time.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

“…Most studies focus on the learner, with findings across traditions indicating a positive impact on personal and professional development including global health competencies, which is in alignment with previous reviews. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Moreover, this review also provides new insights into how assumptions about what international placements should achieve vary between different scholarly communities and how these assumptions have shifted over time.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Findings suggest a number of educational benefits for students, such as a better understanding of public health, the development of clinical skills and cultural competence, and personal growth. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] However, various challenges have been raised, such as health and safety risks 25 and ethical concerns, 26 which may compromise the learning experience, particularly when the international placement takes place in a low resource setting. More recent reviews have also started to look at the impact on host communities showing benefits and harms for the host.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several published reviews have synthesised research investigating the impact of international placements on students in various health professions. Findings suggest a number of educational benefits for students, such as a better understanding of public health, the development of clinical skills and cultural competence, and personal growth 13–24 . However, various challenges have been raised, such as health and safety risks 25 and ethical concerns, 26 which may compromise the learning experience, particularly when the international placement takes place in a low resource setting.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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International short‐term placements in health professions education—A meta‐narrative review

Fruhstorfer,

Jenkins,

Davies

et al. 2023

Medical Education

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IntroductionIn order to be prepared for professional practice in a globalised world, health professions students need to be equipped with a new set of knowledge, skills and attitudes. Experiential learning gained during an international placement has been considered as a powerful strategy for facilitating the acquisition of global health competencies.The aim of this review was to synthesise the diverse body of empirical research examining the process and outcomes of international short‐term placements in health professions education.MethodsA systematic review was conducted using a meta‐narrative methodology. Six electronic databases were searched between September 2016 and June 2022: Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Education Research Complete and Web of Knowledge. Studies were included if they reported on international placements undertaken by undergraduate health professions students in socio‐economically contrasting settings. Included studies were first considered within their research tradition before comparing and contrasting findings between different research traditions.ResultsThis review included 243 papers from 12 research traditions, which were distinguished by health profession and paradigmatic approach. Empirical findings were considered in four broad themes: learner, educational intervention, institutional context and wider context. Most studies provided evidence on the learner, with findings indicating a positive impact of international placements on personal and professional development. The development of cultural competency has been more focus in research in nursing and allied health than in medicine. Whereas earlier research has focussed on the experience and outcomes for the learner, more recent studies have become more concerned with relationships between various stakeholder groups. Only few studies have looked at strategies to enhance the educational process.ConclusionThe consideration of empirical work from different perspectives provides novel understandings of what research has achieved and what needs further investigation. Future studies should pay more attention to the complex nature of the educational process in international placements.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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International short‐term placements in health professions education—A meta‐narrative review

Fruhstorfer,

Jenkins,

Davies

et al. 2023

Medical Education

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“…Roy et al (2018) review the literature about student outcomes from participation in short‐term international mobility programmes that, in addition to internships and training placement programmes, also include exchange semesters spent at a host university, overseas volunteering and foreign language programmes. Matthews et al (2021) provide a critical summary of the literature about the impact of cultural immersion learning experiences (e.g., study tours, work placements abroad) on nursing students' cultural competence. Finally, Kosman et al (2021) investigate what is known about the effect of learning abroad programmes completed by healthcare students on the communities in the developing countries who host them.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

International internships and skill development: A systematic review

Pietro

2022

Review of Education

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An increasing number of students complete an internship during their higher education studies in a country different from that of their home institution. A main advantage of this type of mobility is that it responds to employers' need for graduates with both hands‐on experience and global skills. In this paper, we attempt to review existing research on the types of skills higher education students gain through their participation in international internships. While there are several systematic reviews on study abroad programmes, this is, to the best of our knowledge, the first focusing on internship programmes abroad. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) approaches were used to explore four electronic databases (Scopus, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect and Resources Information Center). From these, 31 relevant studies were identified, and data were examined using a combination of thematic and content analysis. Intrapersonal skills (e.g., open mindedness, self‐confidence) are found to be the most frequently cited skills learned by participants. Many of the reviewed studies also report learning gains in terms of practical knowledge and language proficiency. On the other hand, there is less evidence suggesting that international internships enhance cognitive skills and leadership skills. The large majority of the reviewed studies, however, have methodological problems. A future research agenda is outlined, along with suggestions for improving the research methodology.

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A methodological proposal for midwifery education: Asking, Learning, Telling, and Embracing Diversity (ALTE)

Aydin Er,

Mergen,

Akpinar

2025

Midwifery

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The impact of cultural immersion international learning experiences on cultural competence of nursing students: A critical integrative review

Cited by 10 publications

References 47 publications

International short‐term placements in health professions education—A meta‐narrative review

International short‐term placements in health professions education—A meta‐narrative review

International internships and skill development: A systematic review

A methodological proposal for midwifery education: Asking, Learning, Telling, and Embracing Diversity (ALTE)

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