Convergent evidence for the effectiveness of interpersonal skill training for dental students

The Florida Interpersonal Skills Training (FIST) program for dental students has been evolving for five years. This current paper describes the development and current status of the FIST program and several pieces of evidence that indicate that the program is having its desired effect. This evidence includes (1) demonstration of short-term change in the chairside behavior of students exposed to FIST, (2) more favorable patient perceptions of dentists who behave in accordance with FIST principles (an analog study), (3) student evaluation of the course employing FIST, and (4) practicing dentists' and auxiliaries' evaluation of the usefulness of the course content. It is concluded both that the course seems to be effective and that the evaluation procedures used are both practical and useful.