Intercultural Competences in Chilean Dental Education for Inclusive Healthcare

Abstract

Cultural diversity in Chile and inequities in access and quality of care require the development of cultural competencies in health professionals. Internationally, cultural competence has been integrated into the curricula of health professional programs; however, in Chile it is still in its early stages. A mixed methodology included documentary review (searches and analysis in databases and official documents), key informant interviews and expert consensus. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, and thematic analysis was carried out using ATLAS.ti software. The documentary review identified domains, objectives and instruments used to measure cultural competence in dentistry. The interviews revealed four main categories: conceptions of health, facilitators and barriers, and characteristics of health professionals. Experts developed, evaluated and agreed upon content and learning outcomes. Including cultural competence in dental curricula is essential for more inclusive and culturally safe health care. Its longitudinal integration into various courses, employing effective teaching and assessment methodologies, is recommended. The results of this study provide a guide to identifying the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to train health professionals who ultimately deliver appropriate health care with cultural pertinence.