Design and implementation of a clinical communication skills training course for dental students at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases Research Center, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

2 Dental Research Center, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

3 Medical Sciences Education Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

4 Dentist, Mashhad, Iran

5 Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

6 Provincial Health Center, Health Department, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

 
Background: Given the importance of communication skills education in medical sciences and the need for an appropriate curriculum for clinical education, this study aimed to design and implement a clinical communication skills curriculum for third-year dental students at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.
Method: This action research study included 60 third-year dental students. The educational program was developed based on the Communication Skills Training-3 Elements Model and Instructional Development Institute (IDI) model. Interactive student-centered teaching methods were designed by including team-based teaching, group discussion, action-based interactive lectures, role-playing, and multimedia application strategies. The course was delivered over 18 sessions, each 90 minutes long, by communication skills and dentistry professors, as a workshop-based course worth 1 credit in the fifth semester of the general dentistry program. The students were evaluated regarding their knowledge and skills at the end of the course.
Results: Most of the expected communication skills, including starting the session and establishing a connection, gathering data, considering the patient's perspective, providing information, mutual agreement, and ending the session were at a good level after the implementation of this program. Female students performed better than their male counterparts in various communication aspects, although statistically significant differences were only observed for the skills of providing information, mutual agreement, and ending the session (P=0.032).
Conclusion: Using this clinical communication skills course for dental students can be beneficial, and with further studies in this field and examining its effectiveness in more dental schools, it can be presented to other dental schools as well.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Future of Medical Education Journal
Volume 14, Issue 2
June 2024
Pages 33-37

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