Cultural competence in a primary healthcare center in Santiago de Chile: a mixed methods design.

BACKGROUND: The immigrant population in Chile is growing significantly, challenging the health care system's capacity to provide sensitive and effective care. AIM: To assess the cultural competence of Chilean primary health workers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This mixed-methods study used a quantitative scale and semi-structured interviews to examine the cultural competence of a Chilean primary health care team in their care for the international migrant population. The study pointed to specific variables that were associated with increased cultural competence, including age, intercultural life experiences, and having received relevant training. RESULTS: The two approaches produced largely convergent results. The dimensions of cultural competence with the highest scores on the quantitative scale were also the theoretical dimensions with the greatest discursive density in the qualitative analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis provides a starting point for policies aimed at the development of cultural competence in the national scenario, suggesting a general direction to foster transcultural competence in health, such as formal training and the promotion of informal spaces ofsensibilization.

Revalidación de títulos extranjeros en la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Chile / Foreign diplomas revalidation in the school of medicine at university of Chile

Introducción: Chile se ha consolidado como uno de los mayores destinos migratorios de la región, por lo que ha aumentado también la migración de profesionales de la salud, quienes deben acreditar su formación ante la autoridad chilena pertinente. Los países sin convenios vigentes deben revalidar el título profesional en la Universidad de Chile. Objetivo: Describir las postulaciones de revalidación de títulos profesionales emitidos por universidades extranjeras a las ocho carreras pertenecientes a la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Chile. Métodos: Estudio formulado desde el paradigma positivista. Se utilizaron métodos de análisis cuantitativos, de tipo descriptivo, transversal y basados en fuentes secundarias de información. La muestra ascendió a 1616 postulaciones de revalidación de títulos de profesionales de salud emitidos en el extranjero. Se realizó un análisis cuantitativo de estadística descriptiva mediante el programa STATA 16. Se consideraron como principales variables: el país emisor del título, el título a revalidar y el estado en el proceso de revalidación. Una vez consolidado este análisis, se trianguló con una revisión literaria efectuada entre junio de 2018 y abril de 2019, para establecer si la descripción podía interpretarse desde el fenómeno del drenaje de cerebros. Resultados: Las carreras con mayores tasas de solicitud de revalidación fueron Medicina y Enfermería. Un 32,55 por ciento de las solicitudes correspondieron a títulos emitidos por universidades venezolanas y un 17,51 por ciento del total, a universidades cubanas, por lo que estas se consolidan como las dos principales. Conclusiones: Las solicitudes de revalidación de títulos han ido creciendo a lo largo de los años. La migración de profesionales de la salud a Chile no responde al fenómeno de drenaje de cerebros, sino es consecuencia de los cambios políticos y sociales de la región, y la estabilidad política chilena desde los noventa(AU)

Introduction: Chile has established itself as one of the largest migratory destinations in the region, a reason why health professionals' migration has also increased; in this respect, they must accredit their training before any relevant Chilean authority. For the case of countries without current agreements, the diploma must be revalidated with the University of Chile. Objective: To describe the applications for revalidating diplomas issued by foreign universities corresponding to the eight majors belonging to the School of Medicine at University of Chile. Methods: This is a study designed following the positivist paradigm. Quantitative analysis methods were used, together with descriptive and cross-sectional methods based on secondary sources of information. The sample amounted to 1616 applications for revalidating health-related diplomas issued abroad. A quantitative analysis of descriptive statistics was performed using the STATA 16 software. The main variables considered were country issuing the diploma, diploma to be revalidated, and revalidation status. Once this analysis was completed, it was triangulated with a literary review carried out between June 2018 and April 2019, in order to establish if the description could be interpreted based on the brain drain phenomenon. Results: The majors with the highest application rates for revalidation were Medicine and Nursing. 32.55 percent of the applications corresponded to diplomas issued by Venezuelan universities; while 17.51percent of the total, to Cuban universities, a reason why these are consolidated as the two main ones. Conclusions: Applications for revalidating diplomas have been growing over the years. Health professionals' migration to Chile is not due to the brain drain phenomenon, but a consequence of the political and social changes in the region, as well as the Chilean political stability since the nineties(AU)