Developing an Original Theoretical Framework for Cultural Competency in Dental Education in Nigeria

Dental education in Nigeria must prepare graduates to deliver culturally competent care to patients with diverse beliefs, languages, and health practices, yet no theoretical framework for cultural competency exists in Nigerian dental education, limiting curriculum development and accreditation standards. This study developed an original Theoretical Framework for Cultural Competency in Nigerian Dental Education, drawing on curriculum theory, cultural health literacy evidence, and qualitative grounding across dental schools in all six geopolitical zones. A theory-building methodology was employed, combining systematic review of cultural competency in health professional education (64 publications from 2018 to 2024), qualitative research with 60 final-year dental students and 30 faculty members at six dental schools, and structured expert consultations with 20 dental educationalists, sociologists, and health professionals. The qualitative research revealed that 73.3 percent of final-year students had not received formal cultural competency training and reported frequent cultural communication challenges in clinical practice. Faculty identified traditional remedy use, language barriers, and religious beliefs about dental disease causation as the most clinically significant cultural competency domains. The original NCDC Framework (Nigerian Dental Cultural Competency) proposes six competency domains: cultural awareness, language and communication adaptability, traditional health belief integration, health literacy assessment, religious and gender sensitivity in dental care, and community partnership skills. Each domain includes learning outcomes, assessment methods, and clinical training activity specifications. Expert review by 24 specialists confirmed the framework's original contribution to dental education theory and its practical curriculum integration value.

Keywords: cultural competency, dental education, curriculum framework, Nigeria, health literacy