Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
IADR Congress, Barcelona, İspanya, 25 - 28 Haziran 2025, (Özet Bildiri)
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the perceptions and awareness of final year dental students regarding the importance of communication, empathy, and the use of body language in dental practice.
Methods: A survey comprising 45 questions was distributed to final year students at the Ankara University Faculty of Dentistry, who had previously completed a patient communication course in their third year, including 13 hours of theoretical content and 26 hours of practical training. The survey was designed using Google Forms for easy distribution and data collection. Participation was voluntary, and informed consent was obtained from all respondents.
Results: The study revealed that 94.3% of students recognized the critical importance of good communication skills for becoming a competent dentist. Additionally, 67.7% agreed that body language is more effective than verbal communication in interactions. Despite their prior training, only 27.7% of participants reported having received formal training in interpreting patients' body language. The study found significant gender differences, with 81.4% of female students compared to 65.9% of male students emphasizing the focus on communication in dental education (p = 0.046). Furthermore, 98.2% of female students and 89.0% of male students recognized the importance of good communication skills (p = 0.023).
Conclusions: This study suggests that enhancing communication training in dental education, particularly in areas such as non-verbal communication and empathy, may contribute to better preparation of future dentists for establishing effective patient relationships, improving patient care and achieving better clinical outcomes.