title: Patients' Perceptions of Dehumanization of Patients in Dental School Settings: Implications for Clinic Management and Curriculum Planning.
abstract: Although the importance of empathy, rapport, and anxiety/pain awareness in dentist-patient relations has been well documented, these factors continue to be an issue with patients in many dental school clinics. The aim of this study was to develop an in-depth understanding of how patients at an urban, university-affiliated medical center and its dental school's clinic experienced oral health care and to generate ideas for improving the dental school's clinical curriculum and management of the clinic. Although patient satisfaction surveys are common, in-depth patient narratives are an underutilized resource for improving dental education. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 uninsured or underinsured dental patients at these sites, and the results were analyzed using content analysis. Major phenomena that participants discussed were the importance of empathy and good rapport with their oral health providers and provider awareness of dental pain and anxiety. Many patients also discussed feeling dehumanized during dental visits. Based on their positive and negative experiences, the participants made suggestions for how oral health professionals can successfully engage patients in treatment.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Raja is Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago; Ms. Shah is an undergraduate student, University of Illinois at Chicago; Ms. Hamad is an undergraduate student, University of Illinois at Chicago; Dr. Van Kanegan is Codirector, Chicago Community Oral Health Forum; Ms. Kupershmidt is an undergraduate student, University of Illinois at Chicago; and Ms. Kruthoff is a dental student, College of Dentistry, Marquette University. sraja1@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Sheela
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raja
authors.affiliation: Dr. Raja is Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago; Ms. Shah is an undergraduate student, University of Illinois at Chicago; Ms. Hamad is an undergraduate student, University of Illinois at Chicago; Dr. Van Kanegan is Codirector, Chicago Community Oral Health Forum; Ms. Kupershmidt is an undergraduate student, University of Illinois at Chicago; and Ms. Kruthoff is a dental student, College of Dentistry, Marquette University.
authors.forename: Raveena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Dr. Raja is Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago; Ms. Shah is an undergraduate student, University of Illinois at Chicago; Ms. Hamad is an undergraduate student, University of Illinois at Chicago; Dr. Van Kanegan is Codirector, Chicago Community Oral Health Forum; Ms. Kupershmidt is an undergraduate student, University of Illinois at Chicago; and Ms. Kruthoff is a dental student, College of Dentistry, Marquette University.
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hamad
authors.affiliation: Dr. Raja is Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago; Ms. Shah is an undergraduate student, University of Illinois at Chicago; Ms. Hamad is an undergraduate student, University of Illinois at Chicago; Dr. Van Kanegan is Codirector, Chicago Community Oral Health Forum; Ms. Kupershmidt is an undergraduate student, University of Illinois at Chicago; and Ms. Kruthoff is a dental student, College of Dentistry, Marquette University.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Kanegan
authors.affiliation: Dr. Raja is Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago; Ms. Shah is an undergraduate student, University of Illinois at Chicago; Ms. Hamad is an undergraduate student, University of Illinois at Chicago; Dr. Van Kanegan is Codirector, Chicago Community Oral Health Forum; Ms. Kupershmidt is an undergraduate student, University of Illinois at Chicago; and Ms. Kruthoff is a dental student, College of Dentistry, Marquette University.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kupershmidt
authors.affiliation: Dr. Raja is Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago; Ms. Shah is an undergraduate student, University of Illinois at Chicago; Ms. Hamad is an undergraduate student, University of Illinois at Chicago; Dr. Van Kanegan is Codirector, Chicago Community Oral Health Forum; Ms. Kupershmidt is an undergraduate student, University of Illinois at Chicago; and Ms. Kruthoff is a dental student, College of Dentistry, Marquette University.
authors.forename: Mariela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kruthoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003142:Communication; D003479:Curriculum; D032981:Dehumanization; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology; D003740:Dental Clinics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D058748:Pain Perception; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012575:Schools, Dental; D035862:Vulnerable Populations; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: attitude of health personnel; clinical education; communication; dental education; dentist-patient relations; patient care management