Exploring the predictive ability of two new complementary instruments for assessing effective therapeutic communication skills of dental and dental hygiene students.
Research on the development of effective therapeutic communication skills for oral health providers is slowly evolving. One of the initial steps in this research is to identify and address gaps in the work of previous researchers. Ultimately, the educational goal of competence in communications skills development is to provide improved patient care including improved patient satisfaction. This article is the third in a series describing the development of and findings from the new complementary Patient Communication Assessment Instrument (PCAI) and Student Communication Assessment Instrument (SCAI). The aim of the study reported here was to look at the relationship between communication skills and patient and student clinician gender interactions, sociodemographic factors (e.g., age, income), and changes in these interactions with length of treatment. A total of 410 patient assessments (PCAI) and 410 matching student self-assessments (SCAI) were used for further data analysis. Patients of female student clinicians, female patients, patients of a higher and the lowest income range, and older patients reported statistically significant higher student communication scores. The PCAI identified that certain groups of patients consistently report higher scores than other groups, whereas the SCAI identified differences between male and female student clinicians. The results have implications for educational protocols, communication strategies, and the need for continued research regarding sociodemographic factors and their relationship to patient satisfaction.
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, D009-780 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. schonwet@cc.umanitoba.ca
Dieter J
DJ
Schönwetter
Mickey
M
Emmons Wener
Nita
N
Mazurat
Ben
B
Yakiwchuk
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education*; D004497:Education, Dental; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students; D013335:Students, Dental; D055815:Young Adult