Objectives: 

• The learner will be able to identify barriers to dental care in the Hispanic and Latin communities.
• The learner will be able to modify their care to increase comfortability among Hispanic and Latin patients.
• The learner will be able to differentiate between Latin and Hispanic patients. 
• The learner will be able to incorporate culturally appropriate language into their care.

Have you ever wished you could do more for your patient but found that culture has been a barrier? I think we have all noticed there is certain misinformation passed along in different cultures. Even as healthcare workers, we often experience this with our own families. As a Mexican American myself, I know a great deal of the different "medical tips" that are passed along from our favorite "tia" (aunt) or the overly helpful "vecino" (neighbor).  These behaviors are far too common in the Hispanic and Latin communities. They are also behaviors I try to understand and empathize with so that I can better care for my minority patients. In this course you will learn the “why” behind some of the behaviors in the Hispanic and Latin communities. You will become familiar with the nuances of dealing with Latins, environmental factors that contribute to their decision making, and learn how to leverage our similarities. The “meta” or goal of this course is to equip dental professionals to better understand the cultural factors affecting our patients’ behaviors so that we can increase equity in the minority community.