Exam Pass Notes

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Core Principles

• Cultural safety is measured by the patient’s experience rather than the team’s intent.
• Avoid reducing patients to stereotypes about culture, ethnicity, religion, language or background.
• Ask respectful, individual questions about what would make care safer, clearer or more comfortable.
• Patients may need support with language, health literacy, disability access, privacy, cost, transport, family pressure, past trauma or trust.

Language and Understanding

• Use professional interpreters for clinical discussions, consent, safeguarding or any complex information when required.
• Do not use children as interpreters for adult clinical conversations.
• Address the patient directly, even when an interpreter is present.
• Use plain language, visual aids and pauses; check understanding with teach-back.
• Nodding alone does not confirm comprehension.

Respecting Personal Needs

• Patients may have needs related to fasting, modesty, gender preference, touch, family involvement, traditional practices or objections to certain materials.
• Do not assume a request can or cannot be met; check with the dentist or relevant lead.
• Balance patient preferences with clinical safety, infection control, valid consent and professional standards.
• Record communication needs and any agreed preferences factually in the notes.

Bias and Speaking Up

• Bias affects tone, records, assumptions, explanations and arrangements for follow-up.
• Respond to judgemental labels by focusing on the patient’s needs and practical support.
• Raise concerns if a patient may be excluded, misunderstood, coerced or treated unfairly.
• Use local reporting routes for repeated or serious issues.
• Inclusive care depends on reliable systems and clear processes, not on intentions alone.