Communication skills training for dental students

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Communication
• Dental Education

Background:

• Effective human interaction is crucial for healthcare professionals.
• Past communication skills training for students has faced acceptance challenges.
• Dental students require specialized communication training for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the perceived relevance and credibility of a communication skills course for dental students.
• To address previous issues with student acceptance of communication training.
• To improve the integration of communication skills into dental practice.

Main Methods:

• Utilized video-taped communication vignettes from actual dental office situations.
• Employed selected clinical dental faculty members as group facilitators.
• Designed the course to directly address dental student needs and experiences.

Main Results:

• The use of realistic video vignettes increased the program's perceived relevance.
• Involving clinical faculty as facilitators boosted the program's credibility.
• These methods showed promise in improving student engagement and acceptance.

Conclusions:

• Video vignettes and faculty facilitators are effective strategies for enhancing dental communication skills training.
• This approach increases the perceived value and trustworthiness of communication courses for dental students.
• Improving communication skills education is vital for future dental professionals' careers.