Content validation of a model for organizational cultural competence of health-related post-secondary academic departments or units

OBJECTIVE: Health-related academic units need to be culturally competent to meet workforce needs for culturally competent personnel and to establish effective academic-practice linkages. This study was designed to test the content validity of a model, developed from a literature review, for organizational cultural competence of health-related academic units. METHODS: An expert panel convened as a virtual team to provide input on domains and criteria statements that are important and relevant for academia. An iterative process was used as a series of large and small group telephone conferences and e-mail comment period. RESULTS: Over a 4-month period, the expert panel revised, deleted, and added domains and criteria statements. Twelve domains with 73 criteria statements were identified and categorized as: Organization & Administration; Personnel; Community & Environment; Curriculum & Experiential Practice; Research; and Technical Skills & Consultation. CONCLUSION: A model for organizational cultural competence of health-related academic units is proposed. Although further validation is needed, this research begins to establish content validity for the evolving model and establishes the beginning of a foundation to develop an organizational self-assessment tool for academic units to assess and enhance their cultural competence.