Culturally Attuned Oral Health Care for Latinx Patients

Background: Bridging gaps in oral health care begins with a culturally attuned approach in dental and oral health education to contribute to health equity and overall positive health outcomes for Latinx individuals in the United States. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of culturally attuned care in the Adams School of Dentistry (ASOD) student clinics. The importance of providing culturally attuned care has been shown to be imperative in addressing widespread health disparities for racial and ethnic minority populations across the United States. The Hispanic/Latinx population is the largest and fastest-growing non-majority ethnic group in the United States but bears one of the highest oral disease burdens in the country. We aim to improve the quality of culturally attuned care provided to Latinx and Hispanic via research-informed quality improvement efforts.

Methods: An electronic Qualtrics survey was distributed to students and faculty who provide or precept patient care at ASOD Student Clinics. The survey tool utilized was the Cultural Competence Self-Awareness Checklist, which is a self-assessment tool focusing on knowledge, skills, and awareness of culturally attuned care. In total, the survey was sent out to the entire dental school population (D1, D2, D3, D4, DH1, and DH2 students, and faculty). Of that larger population, approximately 320 identified individuals were the main study population for this evaluation.

Results: There were 79 started provider survey responses recorded. Of those 79 identified, 45 providers completed the survey. 70 of the 79 providers identified themselves in the demographics section. 46 were students, 23 were faculty members, and 5 were “other.” Provider responses were measured on a Likert scale as Never (1), Sometimes/Occasionally (2), Fairly Often/Pretty Well (3), and Always/Very Well (4). Scale data was analyzed utilizing Qualtrics reporting. Of the 36 items included on the self-assessment, the 6 with the tightest distribution (two from each area of skills, knowledge, and awareness) were identified as targeted areas for Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) efforts. These 6 identified targeted areas for CQI efforts included: 1. Check Assumptions, 2. Be Curious, 3. Ask Questions, 4. Acknowledge the Importance of Difference, 5. Challenge Discriminatory and/or Racist Behavior, and 6. Communicate Across Cultures.

Conclusions and Implications: Quality improvement efforts related to culturally attuned care are critical to addressing oral health disparities for the Hispanic/Latinx population. Results from our survey of oral health providers and trainees helped us understand more about the necessary areas of improvement to provide culturally appropriate care for various patient populations. This survey also highlighted some self-identified provider strengths, including providers valuing diversity and human differences, a commitment to life-long learning, and acting respectfully in cross-cultural situations. These emergent themes will help us make specific recommendations for quality improvement efforts to target increasing knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide culturally attuned care for our Hispanic/Latinx patients.