Differences in Dental Students' Intercultural Competence Across a Four-Year Program

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Cultural Competence in Healthcare
• Health Equity

Background:

• Cultural competence is crucial for dentists serving diverse populations.
• Training in cultural competence equips dental professionals with necessary knowledge, awareness, and skills.
• Understanding the development of cultural competence in dental students is essential for curriculum improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure the perceived cultural competence of dental students across all four years at the University of Alberta.
• To identify differences in perceived cultural competence based on academic progression.
• To inform strategies for enhancing cultural competence training in dental education.

Main Methods:

• A validated 17-item questionnaire, the Knowledge, Efficacy, and Practices Instrument for Oral Health Providers, was administered in 2018.
• Dental students were categorized into four cohorts (C1-C4) based on their year and program entry.
• Perceived cultural competence was assessed on a 1-4 scale, with data analyzed for significant differences between cohorts.

Main Results:

• A total of 102 eligible students participated in the study.
• Mean perceived cultural competence scores increased significantly with each academic cohort, from C1 (2.50) to C4 (3.04).
• Third- and fourth-year (C4) clinical students demonstrated significantly higher perceived cultural competence than preclinical students (p=0.001).

Conclusions:

• Perceived cultural competence in dental students at the University of Alberta increases significantly as they progress through clinical training.
• While clinical-level students show higher perceived competence, there remains a need for enhanced cultural competence training.
• These findings underscore the importance of integrating and reinforcing cultural competence throughout the dental curriculum.