Nurse Cultural Competence and Patient-Centered Care in a Tertiary Hospital in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Cultural competence is increasingly recognized as a vital component of nursing practice, particularly in multicultural healthcare environments such as Saudi Arabia, where expatriates comprise the majority of the nursing workforce. Objective: To examine the relationship between nurses’ cultural competence and their perceptions of patient-centered care in a tertiary hospital in Riyadh. Methods: A descriptive correlational design was employed. A total of 166 nurses were surveyed using the Nurse Cultural Competence Scale (NCCS) and the Individualized Care Scale–Nurse (ICS-Nurse). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and Pearson correlation. Results: Nurses demonstrated moderate cultural competence (mean = 2.85, SD = 1.09) and high perceptions of patient-centered care (mean = 3.96, SD = 0.86). A weak positive correlation was observed between cultural competence and patient-centered care (r = 0.1285, p = 0.099). Nationality significantly influenced both cultural competence (χ² = 64.750, p < 0.001) and patient-centered care perceptions (χ² = 69.935, p < 0.001), while sex, educational attainment, and years of expertise showed no significant associations. Conclusion: Cultural competence modestly influences nurses’ perceptions of patient-centered care. Ongoing training programs and organizational policies that emphasize cultural awareness and communication are essential to enhance care quality in diverse healthcare settings.