Working experience is not a predictor of good communication: Results from a controlled trial with simulated patients

Abstract

Introduction:The importance of good communication in dentistry is proven in terms of both medical satisfaction and patient-related recovery and prevention. The present work deals with the comparison of communicative abilities and the communicative self-assessment of licensed dentists as well as students of dentistry with special emphasis on the influence of the treatment experience. Materials and Methods:A total of 34 dentists (experimental group) with an average work experience of 16 years and 36 students (control group) with an average of 1.4 years of treatment experience were included. In addition to a tutor, four types of simulation patients with standardised trained roles (anxious, critical, dissatisfied and difficult to motivate) were used to create reproducible conversations. The selfassessment and evaluation of the conversation took place by completing questionnaires. Here, an introductory questionnaire was distributed to the participants prior to the conversation and another one after intervention. Whilst the tutors completed their survey during the intervention, the simulation patients answered their questions after the conversation. Results:The results showed that the dentists rated their own communication skills significantly higher than the students for anxious (P < 0.001) and unmotivated patients (P = 0.026). However, the evaluation of the simulated patients showed that the students achieved higher overall empathy scores (42.03 vs 38.77, P = 0.016). Conclusion:Due to the declining empathy values with increasing treatment experience, communication training is useful for the daily routine of treatment even for experienced dentists. K E Y W O R D S communication, dental students, empathy, medical training, physician-patient relationship, work experience S U PP O RTI N G I N FO R M ATI O N Additional supporting information may be found online in the Supporting Information section. How to cite this article: Kruse AB, Heil HK-P, Struß N, et al. Working experience is not a predictor of good communication: Results from a controlled trial with simulated patients. Eur J Dent Educ. 2020;24:177-185. https ://doi.

Perfil socioeconômico e nível de satisfação dos pacientes atendidos na clínica de endodontia de uma instituição de pós-graduação

“…A boa comunicação profissional/paciente, incluindo a transmissão apropriada de informações sobre o tratamento e a consequente adequação da expectativa do paciente aos resultados esperados, é de extrema importância para o êxito de qualquer trabalho 18,19 . É interessante ressaltar que o atendimento ofertado tanto pelo aluno quanto pelo professor foi considerado "ótimo", sendo esse dado de fundamental importância para uma autoanálise da qualidade e que o atendimento na Clínica de Endodontia da ABO-PI corresponde à expectativa dos usuários.…”

Strah od odlaska stomatologu

“…Using VR (virtual reality) devices is a technique which is easy to apply and can divert attention from the checkup and thus reduce the pain and anxiety (20,21). Still, a person's first encounter with a dentist in the earliest childhood and that dentist's communication skills and level of empathy, regardless of their work experience, can directly impact the degree of dental phobia and indirectly impact the oral health of the patient (22).…”

“…Korištenje uređaja virtualne stvarnosti kao tehnike, koja je jednostavna za izvođenje, kod djece može otkloniti pozornost sa samog pregleda i time umanjiti bol i anksioznost (20,21). Ipak, upoznavanje sa stomatologom još od najranijeg djetinjstva te njegove dobre komunikacijske vještine i empatija, neovisno o njegovu radnom iskustvu, mogu direktno utjecati na stupanj dentalne anksioznosti, a posredno i na oralno zdravlje pacijenta (22).…”

Deconstructed simulation for initial interview practice

“…Dental students require practice performing initial interviews with patients. Student encounters with simulated patients (SP) have been shown to be effective in improving communication skills 1 . Individual simulations are costly, time‐consuming, and may be anxiety‐producing for students.…”