Cent Eur J Nurs Midw 2026, 17(3):2487-2497 | DOI: 10.15452/cejnm.2026.17.0016

Exploring cultural competence among healthcare professionals in Slovenia: a cross-sectional study

Esmina Softiĉ1, Mirko Prosen2
1 University of Primorska, Faculty of Education, Koper, Slovenija
2 University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izola, Slovenia

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the cultural competence of healthcare professionals, with the aim of developing educational content on cultural competence in healthcare.

Design: A quantitative descriptive approach with a cross-sectional design.

Methods: The Slovenian version of the Cultural Competence Assessment Tool (CCATool) was administered to 404 participants representing various healthcare professions.

Results: The results showed that most participants (96.2%) demonstrated cultural awareness, with significantly above-average scores across all domains (p < 0.001), while only 2.3% achieved full cultural competence and 1.5% were classified as culturally incompetent, with none achieving cultural safety.

Conclusion: Incorporating cultural competency training into educational programs can significantly improve the quality of health services, help reduce health disparities, strengthen awareness of cultural diversity, and promote effective functioning in multicultural environments.

Keywords: cultural awareness, culturally responsive care, educational needs, nursing education, transcultural nursing

Received: November 16, 2025; Revised: July 3, 2026; Accepted: July 6, 2026; Published: September 6, 2026  Show citation

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Softiĉ E, Prosen M. Exploring cultural competence among healthcare professionals in Slovenia: a cross-sectional study. Central European Journal of Nursing and Midwifery. 2026;17(3):2487-2497. doi: 10.15452/cejnm.2026.17.0016.
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