Cultural Competences Among Future Nurses and Midwives: a Case of Attitudes Toward Jehovah's Witnesses' Stance on Blood Transfusion

Overview

Journal BMC Med Educ

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Medical Education

Date 2024 Jun 15

PMID 38879475

Authors

Jan Domaradzki

Katarzyna Glodowska

Einat Doron

Natalia Markwitz-Grzyb

Piotr Jabkowski

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Transcultural nursing recognises the significance of cultural backgrounds in providing patients with quality care. This study investigates the opinions of master's students in nursing and midwifery regarding the attitudes of Jehovah's Witnesses towards refusing blood transfusions.

Methods: 349 master's students in nursing and midwifery participated in a quantitative study and were surveyed via the Web to evaluate their awareness of the stance of Jehovah's Witnesses on blood transfusions and the ethical and legal dilemmas associated with caring for Jehovah's Witness (JW) patients.

Results: The study yielded three significant findings. It unequivocally demonstrates that nursing and midwifery students possess inadequate knowledge regarding Jehovah's Witnesses' stance on blood transfusions and their acceptance of specific blood products and medical procedures. Despite being cognisant of the ethical and legal dilemmas of caring for JW patients, students lack an understanding of patients' autonomy to reject blood transfusions and their need for bloodless medicine. Students also articulated educational needs regarding cultural competencies regarding the Jehovah's Witnesses' beliefs on blood transfusions and non-blood management techniques.

Conclusions: Healthcare professionals need the knowledge and skills necessary to provide holistic, patient-centred and culturally sensitive care. This study emphasises the urgent need for university curricula and nursing postgraduate training to include modules on transcultural nursing and strategies for minimising blood loss.

References

Licen S, Karnjus I, Prosen M . Measuring Cultural Awareness Among Slovene Nursing Student: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Transcult Nurs. 2020; 32(1):77-85. DOI: 10.1177/1043659620941585. View

Liu T, Chen M, Chang Y, Lin M . A Preliminary Study on the Cultural Competence of Nurse Practitioners and Its Affecting Factors. Healthcare (Basel). 2022; 10(4). PMC: 9026283. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10040678. View

Walkowska A, Przymuszala P, Marciniak-Stepak P, Nowosadko M, Baum E . Enhancing Cross-Cultural Competence of Medical and Healthcare Students with the Use of Simulated Patients-A Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(3). PMC: 9916152. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032505. View

Repo H, Vahlberg T, Salminen L, Papadopoulos I, Leino-Kilpi H . The Cultural Competence of Graduating Nursing Students. J Transcult Nurs. 2016; 28(1):98-107. DOI: 10.1177/1043659616632046. View

Habler O, Thorner M, Schmidt C, Hofmann P, Dobert U, Hohler M . [Mortality after high-risk surgery in Jehovah's Witness patients]. Anaesthesist. 2019; 68(7):444-455. DOI: 10.1007/s00101-019-0617-8. View

Resar L, Frank S . Bloodless medicine: what to do when you can't transfuse. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2015; 2014(1):553-8. DOI: 10.1182/asheducation-2014.1.553. View

Gouezec H, Lerenard I, Jan S, Bajeux E, Renaudier P, Mertes P . [Physicians' perception on taking care of Jehovah's witnesses]. Transfus Clin Biol. 2016; 23(4):196-201. DOI: 10.1016/j.tracli.2016.08.002. View

Rajewska A, Mikolajek-Bedner W, Sokolowska M, Lebdowicz J, Kwiatkowski S, Torbe A . The Jehovah's Witness obstetric patient - a literature review. Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther. 2020; 51(5):390-403. DOI: 10.5114/ait.2019.90991. View

Osmancevic S, Grossschadl F, Lohrmann C . Cultural competence among nursing students and nurses working in acute care settings: a cross-sectional study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2023; 23(1):105. PMC: 9890795. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09103-5. View

10.

Zalewska-Puchala J, Bodys-Cupak I, Majda A . Attitudes of polish nurses towards representatives of certain religions. BMC Nurs. 2022; 21(1):28. PMC: 8771175. DOI: 10.1186/s12912-021-00798-7. View

11.

Licen S, Prosen M . The development of cultural competences in nursing students and their significance in shaping the future work environment: a pilot study. BMC Med Educ. 2023; 23(1):819. PMC: 10621240. DOI: 10.1186/s12909-023-04800-5. View

12.

Zeybek B, Childress A, Kilic G, Phelps J, Pacheco L, Carter M . Management of the Jehovah's Witness in Obstetrics and Gynecology: A Comprehensive Medical, Ethical, and Legal Approach. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2016; 71(8):488-500. PMC: 4991563. DOI: 10.1097/OGX.0000000000000343. View

13.

Bodnaruk Z, Wong C, Thomas M . Meeting the clinical challenge of care for Jehovah's Witnesses. Transfus Med Rev. 2004; 18(2):105-16. DOI: 10.1016/j.tmrv.2003.12.004. View

14.

Wilson P . Jehovah's Witness children: when religion and the law collide. Paediatr Nurs. 2005; 17(3):34-7. DOI: 10.7748/paed2005.04.17.3.34.c978. View

15.

Locsin R . Culture-centrism and holistic care in nursing practice. Holist Nurs Pract. 2002; 15(4):1-3. DOI: 10.1097/00004650-200107000-00003. View

16.

Cruz J, Alquwez N, Cruz C, Felicilda-Reynaldo R, Vitorino L, Islam S . Cultural competence among nursing students in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. Int Nurs Rev. 2017; 64(2):215-223. DOI: 10.1111/inr.12370. View

17.

Resar L, Wick E, Almasri T, Dackiw E, Ness P, Frank S . Bloodless medicine: current strategies and emerging treatment paradigms. Transfusion. 2016; 56(10):2637-2647. DOI: 10.1111/trf.13736. View

18.

El-Messoudi Y, Lillo-Crespo M, Leyva-Moral J . Exploring the education in cultural competence and transcultural care in Spanish for nurses and future nurses: a scoping review and gap analysis. BMC Nurs. 2023; 22(1):320. PMC: 10504770. DOI: 10.1186/s12912-023-01483-7. View

19.

Maier-Lorentz M . Transcultural nursing: its importance in nursing practice. J Cult Divers. 2009; 15(1):37-43. View

20.

Majda A, Zalewska-Puchala J, Bodys-Cupak I, Kurowska A, Barzykowski K . Evaluating the Effectiveness of Cultural Education Training: Cultural Competence and Cultural Intelligence Development among Nursing Students. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(8). PMC: 8070552. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18084002. View