Intercultural competence skills: A tool for argumentative violence reduction in healthcare facilities

Background: Verbal conflicts among staff in healthcare settings are a serious issue that requires intervention at different levels. On a day-to-day basis, the issues they are dealing with are multi-faceted covering physical, emotional, cultural, etc., the magnitude of the conflict arising out of it is also quite intense and serious. The objective of this study was to assess the cross-cultural violence, and explore intercultural competence perception and awareness among healthcare staff. Methodology: A quantitative survey was conducted at King Fahad Medical City (KFMC) using the stratified random sample technique covering seven departments in the institution. A total number of 105 staff selected randomly from each stratum were asked to complete the questionnaire covering Intercultural Competence (ICC) items and 100 individuals responded to the survey. Result: With regard to the working environment, employees are aware of the consequences of these factors, Saudis and non-Saudis were unsatisfied with the present environment. Even though English is frequently used as an official language, the general communication among the employees remains as an obstacle. With regard to awareness about the intercultural competence, even though they are aware of it, they find it difficult to accommodate or fully accept other cultures. Conclusion: The environmental factors have a driving influence for employees in the acquisition of intercultural competence skills for the sake of work stability and survival. It is imperative for institutions to initiate strategies that will inspire the employees' intercultural competence and enhance cross-cultural understanding.