The Innovation of Knowledge Development for Support of Transcultural Nursing Services: Elderly Health Wisdom
Keywords:
cultural competence, health innovation, mixed methods research, older adults, transcultural nursingAbstract
Healthcare provision for older adults is complex, as it involves beliefs, lifestyles, and expectations for healthcare services. This mixed-methods research aimed to develop a knowledge base and an innovation to support transcultural nursing services for older adults. The study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 explored older adults’ culturally related healthcare needs, professional nurses’ perceptions of these needs, and cultural knowledge and skills among retired professional nurses. The participants included 440 older adults, 410 professional nurses, and 60 retired professional nurses from Chonburi, Chachoengsao, and Rayong provinces. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed through thematic analysis. Phase 2 involved the development and pilot implementation of a knowledge-based innovation among 40 professional nurses. The findings revealed that older adults reported the highest level of culturally congruent healthcare needs overall, while professional nurses similarly perceived a high level of these needs. Retired professional nurses identified age, religion, occupation, health behaviors, dietary practices, and health beliefs as key factors influencing older adults’ health. The synthesized findings led to the development of the knowledge supporting transcultural nursing services, encompassing cultural knowledge, cultural awareness, and culturally congruent care skills. This knowledge was subsequently transformed into a web-based application consisting of a transcultural nursing database, a knowledge repository, and a client information management system. Following implementation, nurses’ knowledge, cultural awareness, and care skills improved significantly (t₃₉=8.445, p<.001), and the innovation was evaluated as highly efficient. These findings demonstrate the potential of digital technology to strengthen transcultural nursing practice and enhance the quality of care for older adults in multicultural societies.
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บทความและรายงานวิจัยในวารสารพยาบาลกระทรวงสาธารณสุข เป็นความคิดเห็นของ ผู้เขียน มิใช่ของคณะผู้จัดทำ และมิใช่ความรับผิดชอบของสมาคมศิษย์เก่าพยาบาลกระทรวงสาธารณสุข ซึ่งสามารถนำไปอ้างอิงได้
