Increasing Cultural Sensitivity Among Students in the Immigrant Health Outreach Terkku Project
Zhang, Rui (2025)
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025051411880
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025051411880
Tiivistelmä
The health and well-being of immigrants present a significant global challenge. Future healthcare professionals must be equipped to address the complex needs of people from diverse backgrounds. However, many students have limited exposure to real-world practice in multicultural healthcare settings. In collaboration with the Universities of Applied Sciences, the Terkku Project offers public health care and nursing students the opportunity to participate in outreach work within multicultural settings. This study aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of students' perceptions and experiences after participating in culturally sensitive outreach work through the Terkku Project.
Qualitative methods were used, and data were collected through interviews with students who participated in the Terkku Project, focusing on their experiences, attitudes, opinions, and behaviours. The thematic analysis method is used to conduct in-depth analysis and interpretation of the data to obtain the key themes.
The results indicate that although the outreach work presented many challenges for them, it significantly enhanced their awareness of cultural sensitivity, motivation, and sense of participation. Students' communication and interpersonal skills were improved, and teamwork abilities were strengthened. The project also fostered personal growth, strengthened meaningful learning relationships, and enabled students to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in providing healthcare to diverse groups of people. Additionally, it positively influenced students' future career aspirations in multicultural healthcare settings.
In conclusion, the outreach work like the Terkku Project offers valuable opportunities for learning and professional growth. It plays a significant role in preparing students for future roles in multicultural healthcare fields. These
outcomes highlight the value of culturally sensitive outreach experiences in equipping competent and culturally aware healthcare professionals. They also play an essential role in addressing the health needs of immigrant communities.
Keywords: Nursing student, Public health care student, Terkku Project, Outreach work, Cultural sensitivity, Learning experience
Qualitative methods were used, and data were collected through interviews with students who participated in the Terkku Project, focusing on their experiences, attitudes, opinions, and behaviours. The thematic analysis method is used to conduct in-depth analysis and interpretation of the data to obtain the key themes.
The results indicate that although the outreach work presented many challenges for them, it significantly enhanced their awareness of cultural sensitivity, motivation, and sense of participation. Students' communication and interpersonal skills were improved, and teamwork abilities were strengthened. The project also fostered personal growth, strengthened meaningful learning relationships, and enabled students to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in providing healthcare to diverse groups of people. Additionally, it positively influenced students' future career aspirations in multicultural healthcare settings.
In conclusion, the outreach work like the Terkku Project offers valuable opportunities for learning and professional growth. It plays a significant role in preparing students for future roles in multicultural healthcare fields. These
outcomes highlight the value of culturally sensitive outreach experiences in equipping competent and culturally aware healthcare professionals. They also play an essential role in addressing the health needs of immigrant communities.
Keywords: Nursing student, Public health care student, Terkku Project, Outreach work, Cultural sensitivity, Learning experience