Abstract

In Chile, the growth of the migrant population since 1990 has been significant; however, the International Migrant Health Policy was only established in 2017. This policy stresses incorporating interculturality, migration, and health into health science curricula. Heads of Faculty manage the curriculum to address contextual needs. The Intercultural Sensitivity Model outlines the stages for developing empathy essential to meet the cultural needs of others. Aim: To explore the Intercultural Sensitivity of Health Science Heads of Faculty in integrating Intercultural Competence for migrant patients into the curriculum. Method: A qualitative study with an interpretative approach was performed. Key informants, consisting of Heads of Faculty from various health disciplines, were interviewed via Zoom after receiving informed consent via email. Data analysis utilized deductive categories aligned with the stages of Intercultural Sensitivity and inductive subcategories, backed by the ATLAS.ti 24 software. Results: Fifteen Heads of Faculty from three universities participated. The identified categories included: a) Denial, characterized by subcategories of academic isolation and lack of awareness of the International Migrant Health Policy; b) Defense, marked by a lack of trained faculty, rigid curricula, and delegation of practical training; c) Minimization, associated with implicit training and downplaying formative efforts; and d) Acceptance, involving strategies for content inclusion. The code/document analysis revealed that the most frequent stage was Minimization, followed by Defense. The highest stage achieved was Acceptance, though it featured unsystematic educational strategies. The stages of Adaptation and Integration were not reached. Conclusion: The Intercultural Sensitivity of Heads of Faculty in integrating Intercultural Competence for migrant patients into the curriculum is predominantly at the stages of Minimization and Defense, which overlook cultural aspects. This approach impacts and perpetuates universalistic and ethnocentric healthcare practices. © 2025 Sociedad Medica de Santiago. All rights reserved.