Table 1. Topic guide for the focus-groups.

Opening question

We are interested in hearing about your experience of working with patients from diverse cultural backgrounds. Please can you tell us about any experiences you have had to date?

Follow up questions

Do you think cultural difference affects health (i.e. ethnicity, nationality, religion, etc.)? How? Do you think the needs of patients belonging to minority groups are being met currently in health care services? What impact do you think being from a diverse cultural background has on patients/families/groups? Have you ever considered how your own culture influences your nursing practice? Are you confident in your level of cultural competence to look after patients from diverse cultural backgrounds? How do you deal with difficulties/conflicts emerging from working with patients from different cultural backgrounds? Have you had any formal training and/or experiential learning in cultural competence? Are cultural issues addressed during lectures? How and when are these issues addressed? Does the university offer any other alternatives to improve your level of cultural competence? Do you think nursing lecturers are sufficiently prepared to deliver teaching in this area? What do you think are your needs in the way of education/training in cultural competence? Can you tell us about your experience of learning in a multicultural environment (if any)?