Enhancing undergraduate nursing students' global health competencies in South Korea.

OBJECTIVES

As the need for greater global health competency increases for health care professionals in South Korea, educational efforts for nursing students have begun. This study examined the effectiveness of two educational courses for freshmen and sophomores that were designed to improve students' global health competencies.

DESIGN AND SAMPLE

A trend study was conducted for all undergraduate nursing students enrolled in a 4-year undergraduate nursing program in 2013 and 2014.

MEASURES

We assessed students' global health competencies (1-knowledge and interests in global health and health equity, 2-global health skills, and 3-learning needs) in 2013 and 2014 and analyzed variance between mean scores by year and by course exposure, using 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Students who took both global health courses (sophomores in both years) reported higher global health-related knowledge and interests than did freshmen (p < .01); these scores were not sustained a year later.

CONCLUSIONS

The two courses may have improved students' global health competencies. Reinforcement of knowledge in later courses may be needed to build on the global competencies.