Communication in Health Care: Working with Diverse Populations

Catalog description

This course will expand on the students’ foundation knowledge regarding effective patient-doctor communication, working with difficult patients, and developing positive therapeutic alliances. Sessions will include lectures and trigger tapes to incorporate problematic (yet not uncommon) communication issues in the dental/health clinic setting. Healthcare communication across diverse populations will address issues in working with diverse patients (e.g., varying ethnicities, cultural groups, and special needs). Communication styles, expectations and health care needs from the perspectives of the provider, patient and health care system will be discussed in the context of patient management. Individual reflective exercises as well as panel discussions with health providers will be included in this course. Treatment outcomes (e.g., enhancing patient well-being and oral health-related quality of life) will be highlighted. Further, addressing personal stressors in the provider, burnout and ways to promote personal well-being will be discussed and assessed. The course includes a clinical rotation in which each student interviews standardized patient actors and receives evaluations for content and interpersonal skills. This course is open only to students in the Doctor of Dental Surgery program. Core curriculum.