The Nathan Kline Institute cultural competency assessment scale: psychometrics and implications for disparity reduction

Adm Policy Ment Health. 2011 Mar;38(2):120-30. doi: 10.1007/s10488-011-0337-0.

Abstract

The NKI Cultural Competency Assessment Scale measures organizational CC in mental health outpatient settings. We describe its development and results of tests of its psychometric properties. When tested in 27 public mental health settings, factor analysis discerned three factors explaining 65% of the variance; each factor related to a stage of implementation of CC. Construct validity and inter-rater reliability were satisfactory. In tests of predictive validity, higher scores on items related to linguistic and service accommodations predicted a reduction in service disparities for engagement and retention outcomes for Hispanics. Disparities for Blacks essentially persisted independent of CC scores.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data
  • Cultural Competency*
  • Data Collection / methods*
  • Female
  • Healthcare Disparities / organization & administration*
  • Hispanic or Latino / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Health Services / organization & administration*
  • Psychometrics
  • Quality of Health Care / organization & administration*