The process of cultural formation in the medical sciences student
Keywords:
cultural training; medical education; medical humanities; cultural competence; curriculumAbstract
Introduction: Cultural education is key to the humanistic training of medical science students, yet it often gets diluted within the technical-scientific curriculum. This article analyzes the available scientific evidence regarding such training and stems from the research project System of strategies aimed at the cultural education of students at the University of Medical Sciences of Camagüey.
Method: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 statement. Searches were performed in SciELO, Scopus, and Web of Science from january 2023 to march 2025. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used to assess the methodological quality of included studies. Two independent reviewers selected the studies.
Results: Of 100 identified records, 15 duplicates were removed. A total of 85 titles and abstracts were screened; 63 were excluded for not meeting the criteria. Twenty-two full texts were assessed, and 11 were excluded for being incomplete. Finally, 11 articles published between 2023 and 2025 were included. Most showed medium-to-high methodological quality.
Discussion: Cultural formation enhances physician-patient communication and empathy, but its implementation remains fragmented and lacks systematic evaluation. Included studies highlight the need to integrate medical humanities into the curriculum, strengthen teacher training, and use educational innovations with clear ethical frameworks. Evidence suggests that cultural formation cannot be limited to theoretical content but must permeate the hidden curriculum and substantive processes.
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