Asian Journal of Research in Nursing and Health

Background: Cultural competence is an important component of nursing education, particularly among nursing clinical instructors who prepare students to provide culturally responsive care in diverse community settings. Community-based exposure may provide opportunities for clinical instructors to develop and apply culturally responsive knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the association between community-based exposure and cultural competence among nursing clinical instructors in Pampanga.

Methods: A descriptive-correlational research design was employed among 166 nursing clinical instructors from participating nursing schools in Pampanga. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire based on the study objectives, relevant literature, conceptual framework, Leininger’s Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality, and Campinha-Bacote’s Model of Cultural Competence. The instrument measured community-based exposure in terms of length, frequency, type and level of engagement, and diversity of community settings, while cultural competence was assessed in terms of attitudes, knowledge, and practices. The questionnaire underwent expert validation, pilot testing, and internal consistency assessment. Data were analysed using frequency, percentage, weighted mean, Chi-square test of association, and Spearman rank-order correlation at a 0.05 level of significance.

Results: The findings showed that the respondents reported varying levels of community-based exposure and cultural competence. A strong positive association was found between overall community-based exposure and overall cultural competence (Spearman’s ρ = 0.653, p < .001). Educational attainment was significantly associated with all dimensions of community-based exposure and all dimensions of cultural competence, indicating its potential role as a confounding factor in the observed relationship.

Conclusion: Community-based exposure was significantly and positively associated with cultural competence among nursing clinical instructors in Pampanga. However, because the study employed a descriptive-correlational design and the reported correlation was unadjusted for potential confounders, the findings do not establish a causal relationship. The results highlight the potential importance of meaningful community-based experiences in supporting culturally responsive nursing education while recognising the need for further research using adjusted and longitudinal analyses.