Open-mindedness trait affects the development of intercultural communication competence in short-term overseas study programs: a mixed-method exploration
Abstract Background Overseas study trips can enhance healthcare students’ intercultural communication competence. An opportunity to immerse in the new culture enables them to develop their ability to offer services to people from different countries. However, the role that open-mindedness (i.e., a p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03281-2 |
| _version_ | 1818355687301840896 |
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| author | Chen Wang Shuang-Ying Wu Yi-Zi Nie Guan-Yu Cui Xiang-Yu Hou |
| author_facet | Chen Wang Shuang-Ying Wu Yi-Zi Nie Guan-Yu Cui Xiang-Yu Hou |
| author_sort | Chen Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Overseas study trips can enhance healthcare students’ intercultural communication competence. An opportunity to immerse in the new culture enables them to develop their ability to offer services to people from different countries. However, the role that open-mindedness (i.e., a personality trait) can play in this process has not been explored. Methods The present study adopted a mixed-method design to identify how open-mindedness trait affected this overseas learning process. Thirty-two undergraduate healthcare students in Australia took part in the study. Questionnaires, which measured socio-demographic information, intercultural communication competence and open-mindedness trait were administered to the participants before and after their overseas trip. Half of the participants (n = 16) were interviewed after the overseas trip. Results The correlational analysis showed that the open-mindedness trait was correlated with cultural skills, a component of intercultural communication competence, but not significant with the other three components. Three themes emerging from the qualitative data indicated that the open-mindedness trait affected students’ cultural exposure. This trait enabled participants to be actively involved in the immersion in the local culture. They were willing to learn from peer fellows, and keen to embrace novel challenges. Conclusion It is concluded that open-mindedness trait is vital for increasing cultural immersion, and hence promote intercultural communication skills. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:45:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-601b41750ad04d138f6d4503c6b0a779 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:45:17Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-601b41750ad04d138f6d4503c6b0a7792022-12-21T23:33:34ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202022-03-012211910.1186/s12909-022-03281-2Open-mindedness trait affects the development of intercultural communication competence in short-term overseas study programs: a mixed-method explorationChen Wang0Shuang-Ying Wu1Yi-Zi Nie2Guan-Yu Cui3Xiang-Yu Hou4Center for Brain, Mind and Education, Shaoxing UniversitySchool of Teacher Education, Shaoxing UniversitySchool of Teacher Education, Shaoxing UniversityDepartment of Psychology, School of Education, Wenzhou UniversityPoche Centre for Indigenous Health, The University of QueenslandAbstract Background Overseas study trips can enhance healthcare students’ intercultural communication competence. An opportunity to immerse in the new culture enables them to develop their ability to offer services to people from different countries. However, the role that open-mindedness (i.e., a personality trait) can play in this process has not been explored. Methods The present study adopted a mixed-method design to identify how open-mindedness trait affected this overseas learning process. Thirty-two undergraduate healthcare students in Australia took part in the study. Questionnaires, which measured socio-demographic information, intercultural communication competence and open-mindedness trait were administered to the participants before and after their overseas trip. Half of the participants (n = 16) were interviewed after the overseas trip. Results The correlational analysis showed that the open-mindedness trait was correlated with cultural skills, a component of intercultural communication competence, but not significant with the other three components. Three themes emerging from the qualitative data indicated that the open-mindedness trait affected students’ cultural exposure. This trait enabled participants to be actively involved in the immersion in the local culture. They were willing to learn from peer fellows, and keen to embrace novel challenges. Conclusion It is concluded that open-mindedness trait is vital for increasing cultural immersion, and hence promote intercultural communication skills.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03281-2Intercultural communication competenceOpen-mindednessHealthcare studentsOverseas study programsMixed-method |
| spellingShingle | Chen Wang Shuang-Ying Wu Yi-Zi Nie Guan-Yu Cui Xiang-Yu Hou Open-mindedness trait affects the development of intercultural communication competence in short-term overseas study programs: a mixed-method exploration BMC Medical Education Intercultural communication competence Open-mindedness Healthcare students Overseas study programs Mixed-method |
| title | Open-mindedness trait affects the development of intercultural communication competence in short-term overseas study programs: a mixed-method exploration |
| title_full | Open-mindedness trait affects the development of intercultural communication competence in short-term overseas study programs: a mixed-method exploration |
| title_fullStr | Open-mindedness trait affects the development of intercultural communication competence in short-term overseas study programs: a mixed-method exploration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Open-mindedness trait affects the development of intercultural communication competence in short-term overseas study programs: a mixed-method exploration |
| title_short | Open-mindedness trait affects the development of intercultural communication competence in short-term overseas study programs: a mixed-method exploration |
| title_sort | open mindedness trait affects the development of intercultural communication competence in short term overseas study programs a mixed method exploration |
| topic | Intercultural communication competence Open-mindedness Healthcare students Overseas study programs Mixed-method |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03281-2 |
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