Developing intercultural competences for more effective patient care and international medical and research collaborations

Abstract

Introduction: In our globalised world, the role of intercultural competence in healthcare is increasing as societies become multicultural. The development of this competence should start in medical education. Objective: In our qualitative study among Hungarian medical students, we sought to find out to what extent the multicultural student composition of our elective course contributes to the development of their intercultural competence. Method: In our action research, semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with 35 Hungarian medical students between April and November, 2021. The transcripts of the digitally recorded interviews were evaluated using qualitative methods. Results: After a thematic analysis of the interviews, the vast majority of the students opinions could be classified into one of the following four thematic categories: 1) the benefits of studying together with international students, 2) the development of cultural awareness, 3) the development of an open mindset, and 4) the expected long-Term impact of intercultural competence on medical work. Overall, Hungarian students evaluated their learning in the multicultural course positively. Based on the results of the focus group interviews, it can be claimed that by the end of the semester, the Hungarian students perceived intercultural competence had improved due to the course and its multicultural composition. Conclusion: The course, with its multicultural student population, can contribute to and promote the acquisition of intercultural competence, which in the long run can be effectively used by future doctors both in patient care and in effective communication within healthcare teams as well as in international medical, research and scientific collaborations. Providing a multicultural student environment in the classroom, including interactive teaching methodologies and intercultural project work, have many potentials to make the learning-Teaching process more effective and could be applied in the future when developing new courses.