Perspectiva de los pacientes sobre los valores humanos en los profesores y estudiantes de Licenciatura en Odontología

Abstract

Dental education requires a close relationship with patients. It is indispensable to know which human values patients expect from professors and students. An instrument for an opinion survey was made, to be self administrated and answered anonymously, it contains 45 values, achievements and attitudes, in six domains; instrumental, vital, aesthetic, social, cognitive and moral, stratified in 15 of 3 each one. There was an experts panel and the instrument was piloted. The patients of the Dental University Clinic were interviewed, asking for de values that medical personnel should have to assist them. The sample size was calculated with EPI-info, and preferences hierarchization was obtained by simple frequencies of items and domains. We analyzed 241 interviews, and there was a bigger preference for 16 values, highlighting: cleanliness, perseverance, tranquillity, the respect to the others, generosity, wisdom, social work, success and dignity. Those of smaller interest were: selfishness, solitude, beauty, religiosity and amusement. The distribution of domains was heterogeneous, without any prevalence. The instrument had appropriate validity and it allows to identify the preferences of the patients for human values that they expect professors and dentistry students to have. This investigation allowed to involve all the social actors to establish a mark of reference of values for the education.