Cultural competence and associated factors among nurses working in public hospitals of South Wollo zone, Northeast Ethiopia: a multi-center cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Enhancing cultural competence stands as a cornerstone in the realm of clinical nursing. Consequently, nurses engaging with culturally diverse communities encounter significant challenges. In Ethiopia, nurses providing care often prioritize physical well-being, the therapeutic journey, and medical interventions, while overlooking the critical cultural dimensions of patient care. Therefore, this study aims to assess the level of cultural competence and its determining factors among nurses employed in public hospitals located in the South Wollo Zone of northeastern Ethiopia. Methods A multicenter, institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 629 nurses employed in public hospitals across northeastern Ethiopia. Participants were selected using a simple random sampling method. Data were gathered using a structured, self-administered English version of the Nurse Cultural Competence Scale Questionnaire (NCCSQ), and subsequently entered into Epi-data 4.6 for analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26, employing multiple linear regression analysis to identify determining factors. Result The participants’ overall mean score for cultural competence was 3.198 95% CI: 3.161, 3.234. Specifically, factors such as being a female nurse (β = 0.089, CI: 0.019–0.159), having a diploma level of education (β = -0.084, CI: -0.101 to -0.007), having 11–20 years of work experience (β = 0.412, CI: 0.090–0.815), a 1:15 nurse-to-patient ratio (β = 0.081, CI: 0.010–0.162), experience with caring for culturally and ethnically diverse patients (β = 0.362, CI: 0.248–0.476), comprehensive hospital level (β = 0.699, CI: 0.496–0.903), and attending cultural training (β = 0.002, CI: 0.234–0.931) were predictors of the mean score for cultural competence. Conclusion In this study, the level of cultural competence was found to be at a moderate level and need more effort. Factors such as gender, years of work experience, nurse-to-patient ratio, experience in caring for culturally and ethnically diverse patients, hospital level, educational attainment, attendance of cultural training, and the presence of a feedback system for cultural competence were identified as predictors of cultural competence level. Sharing experiences from higher-level hospitals to lower-level ones and strengthening cultural competence training sessions for nurses can significantly enhance cultural competence within clinical settings.