Research Assistant: Intercultural Understanding at the Healthcare Workplace

Term: Semester
Type: Research
Major discipline: Political Science, Public Health, Sociology
Related discipline: Anthropology, Management, Organizational Behavior
Available: Fall, Spring
Location: Copenhagen
Credits: 3

Introduction to the topic:

Healthcare employers increasingly recruit health professionals from abroad to solve staff shortages. Consequently, the number of staff increases, but the workplace also becomes more multi-cultural, and this may challenge the existing staff who may feel that their workplace culture is being “pushed”. Also, the new international colleagues may struggle with unfamiliar norms, communication styles, and inclusion, complicating their integration.

Project details:

This project will investigate the (inter)cultural dimensions of this strategy in the healthcare sector, with a comparative focus on Denmark and the United States. We will explore impactful research questions, such as:

Why is it important to address culture and intercultural understanding in the context of healthcare?
How does the recruitment of staff from other cultures affect the work environment in healthcare settings, particularly in terms of communication dynamics, teamwork efficiency, job satisfaction, and ultimately patient care outcomes?
How do colleagues and leadership respond to the increasing number of socio-cultural encounters in the healthcare workplace, if at all?
What are the most effective ways to integrate intercultural understanding and communication into healthcare management?

The project is expected to span several semesters, with each term structured around specific tasks (work packages). This setup ensures that each of you will gain in-depth knowledge of the topic you work on while also developing research skills relevant to that term’s objectives. The project will use a “mixed methods” approach including literature reviews, statistical analyses, semi-structured interviews with relevant individuals and groups in Denmark and the USA, and—if possible—observations at healthcare workplaces.

Selected relevant publications:

Takawira C Marufu, Alexandra Collins, Liavel Vargas, Lucy Gillespie, Dalal Almghairbi (2021). Factors influencing retention among hospital nurses: systematic review. British Journal of Nursing VOL. 30, NO. 5. doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2021.30.5.302
Nei, Darin; Snyder, Lori Anderson; Litwiller, Brett J (2015). Promoting retention of nurses: A meta-analytic examination of causes of nurse turnover. Health Care Management Review 40(3): p 237-253. DOI: 10.1097/HMR.0000000000000025
Marita Naud; Rebecca McCabe (2005). Increasing Retention of Nursing Staff at Hospitals: Aspects of Management and Leadership. Australian Bulletin of Labour, Vol. 31, No. 4, 426-439. https://search.informit.org/doi/epdf/10.3316/ielapa.011136237835434

Additional research application required

You will need to submit an additional research application through Student Registration in order to enroll in this course.

To submit your research application, you must already be admitted to DIS.

All research application materials must be submitted on the following dates by 23:59 Central European Time:

November 1 for spring semester applicants
May 1 for fall semester applicants

Complete your additional research application through Student Registration.

If you are not already enrolled, use this link to apply to DIS before completing a research application.

Syllabus

Spring 2025

Go to syllabus

This is the most recent syllabus for this course

Faculty

Lone Bilde

Faculty

“M.Sc. (Economics and Languages) 1993, B.Sc. (Economics and Languages), 1988, Bi-lingual corrrespondant (French), Copenhagen Business School, Completed 8 of10 modules of BA in Leadership, 2012, Copenhagen Business College. Postgraduate education in health economics, epidemiology, measurement of health-related quality of life, and (bio) statistics.Lone is an experienced consultant, advisor and leader of health care research projects. Her area of expertise is health economics, epidemiology, financing, organization, and the management of the health sector, including health economics evaluation. She has carried out several research projects for – and together with – multiple stakeholders in Denmark as well as internationally. She has held senior positions at the Danish Institute for Health Services Research (DSI), the Danish Institute for Local and Regional Government Research (KORA), the Danish Institute for Applied Social Research (VIVE), Novo Nordisk, Nycomed, and the Danish Cancer Society. “

Research Assistantship FAQ

Learn more about research at DIS.

: Earning authorship within the course of a semester is challenging. Exceptional Research Assistants may be considered for co-authorship, subject to evaluation from the supervising Research Mentor.

Though you may not ultimately become an author on a published paper, you will gain many practical skills and insights into the publication process.

: Many research projects last across several semesters, so not all RAs on the same project will conduct the same research.

: On average, students in 3-credit Research Assistantships spend at least 10 hours a week on research tasks. These 10 hours per week consist of a variety of different research-related tasks, including conducting a literature review, data collection, analyses, coding, documentation, and meetings with your mentor. You may decide on a particular block of time (consistent each week) for you to carry out the work, or adjust it on a week-by-week basis.

Students in a 6-credit Research Assistantships spend an average of 20 hours per week with lab and clinically based research tasks. You decide the exact meeting and lab times with your supervisor, but your schedule consists of classes at DIS two days a week, with two days a week in the lab.

There may be peak times in the research process where all Research Assistant students are expected to spend a few more hours, and then possibly fewer hours another week – to reflect the individual research project and process.

: Work for the 3-credit Research Assistantships may take place outside DIS, on your own time at a location of your choosing, or at DIS – this varies from project to project. The 6-credit research assistantships generally take place at labs in Copenhagen or Stockholm outside DIS.

: Students with a variety of academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply for the 3-credit Research Assistant course. While some courses do have prerequisites, many opportunities do not require prior research experience.

The 6-credit Research Assistant opportunity is designed for highly motivated students who have a strong science background within the field of interest and some basic research experience. The student must be willing to commit a large portion of their semester to an engaging opportunity involving hands-on research in universities and medical institutes in Copenhagen or Stockholm.

Introduction to the topic:

Project details:

Additional research application required

Syllabus

Spring 2025

Faculty

Lone Bilde

Research Assistantship FAQ

Will I publish a research paper?

What exactly will I do?

What is the time commitment for a 3-credit or 6-credit Research Assistantship?

Where is the research work carried out?

What type of student applies for the 3- and 6-credit Research Assistant courses?