Factors influencing professionalism during dental training at the University of Chile: perception of students and patients

BACKGROUND: The University should be considered a favourable space and agent for the training and transmission of values and attitudes related to professionalism, such as responsibility, teamwork and ethical commitment. In addition, dentistry is a profession with a deep social sense that seeks to solve the oral health problems of the population to improve the quality of life. In this context, our aim was to explore the perception of students and patients about the contribution of the curriculum to the development of professionalism and to identify the factors that strengthen and weaken this perception. METHODS: A qualitative approach was carried out through focus groups and semi-structured interviews with students from the 4th, 5th and 6th year of training and patients treated at the Dental Clinic of our Faculty. RESULTS: In the opinion of patients and students, the factors that debilitate the training in professionalism are associated with weakened professional values/behaviours in the training, the lack of teacher training of the professors and factors of educational environment. On the contrary, factors strengthening the professionalism are mainly related to hallmark values/ professional behaviours trained in the institution and to the good evaluation by patients. The respondents also perceive the implementation of a new curriculum as a positive factor for the training in professionalism. CONCLUSION: The patients and students interviewed believe that the main strength for the training in professionalism in the institution is the development of adaptability for the future professionals to any social context, especially to a vulnerable one, the ability to solve the problems they face and the responsibility towards the patients and their treatment.