Nurturing Patient Trust through Communication: An In-depth Guide for Dental Therapists

About This Course

This dental therapy course covers communication fundamentals, from types and barriers to legal and ethical aspects. Develop empathy, active listening skills, and techniques for communicating with various patient groups through role-play exercises and reflective practice.

Why Take This Course?

The course addresses a common challenge faced by UK dental professionals – effective communication with patients. Dental therapists need to have strong communication skills to build trust, alleviate anxiety, and ensure patients understand their treatment options. The course covers a range of communication techniques, including verbal and non-verbal communication, to help dental professionals communicate clearly and empathetically with patients. It also addresses legal and ethical aspects of patient communication, which is crucial to maintain patient confidentiality and avoid complaints. With role-play exercises, feedback, and reflective practice, the course helps dental professionals consolidate their communication skills to provide better patient care.

This course on effective communication in dental therapy covers important topics such as types of communication, legal and ethical aspects, and techniques for communicating with different patient groups. It also focuses on developing empathy and active listening skills through role-play exercises and reflective practice, making it a valuable resource for dental professionals looking to improve their communication skills.

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How This Course Supports GDC Enhanced Dental CPD

“Dental professionals have a duty to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. A primary qualification is only the first step in their education and development which should last throughout their professional life” General Dental Council

Learning Objectives	Anticipated Outcomes
#REF!	1: Upon completion of the course, participants are expected to understand and put into practice fundamental and advanced communication strategies in their dental practices.
	2: As a result of this course, learners will likely enhance their interpersonal interactions within their dental teams and with their patients, leading to an improved work environment and patient experience.
	3: The course should lead to improved engagement, collaboration, and communication effectiveness amongst dental professionals.
	4: In the wider context, the course aims to contribute to improved communication standards in the dental field, potentially impacting patient satisfaction and outcome positively.
	5: Following the course, the expectation is that attendees will manifest heightened listening skills, empathy, and competence in managing challenging conversations in their dental practice.

Regulatory Standards

GDC	CQC
✅ A – Effective Communication ✅ B – Effective Management ✅ C – Maintenance in Field of Practice ✅ D – Maintenance in Patient Confidence	✅ Caring ✅ Effective ✅ Leadership ✅ Responsive ✅ Safe

🕐 90 minutes of Enhanced Dental CPD

Course Description

The course covers the fundamentals of effective communication in dental therapy including understanding the importance of communication, types of communication, verbal and non-verbal communication skills, addressing common barriers, and evaluating communication scenarios. It also covers legal and ethical aspects of patient communication such as UK regulations, confidentiality, risks, complaints, and ethical communication through role-play exercises. The course teaches empathy and active listening skills, techniques for communicating with different patient groups, and consolidating communication skills through clear explanations, eliciting patient concerns, feedback, and reflective practice.

Course Outline

Section 1

The course covers the fundamentals of effective communication in dental therapy, including understanding its importance, different types of communication, and how to address common barriers. It also covers legal and ethical aspects of patient communication, empathy and active listening, communicating with different patient groups, and techniques for consolidating communication skills through reflective practice.

Section 2

Section 2 of the course covers the fundamentals of effective communication in dental therapy, including legal and ethical aspects of patient communication, empathy and active listening, communicating effectively with different patient groups, and consolidating communication skills through reflective practice. Students will learn about the importance of communication in dental therapy, different elements and types of professional communication, common barriers to effective communication, and how to address them. Additionally, they will gain an understanding of UK regulations around patient communication, confidentiality and privacy considerations, informed consent, handling complaints, and managing patient expectations. Techniques for showing empathy, active listening, and tailoring communication strategies for different patient cohorts will also be covered. Finally, students will learn about providing clear explanations, eliciting patient concerns, the role of feedback and follow-ups, and the value of reflective practice in improving professional communication.

Section 3

The course content in Section 3 covers the fundamentals of effective communication, including verbal and non-verbal communication skills, common barriers to effective communication, and legal and ethical aspects of patient communication. The module also covers empathy and active listening in dentistry, communicating effectively with different patient groups, and techniques for reflective practice to improve communication skills.

Section 4

Section 4 of the course covers effective communication with different patient groups, including children, adolescents, nervous patients, elderly patients, and people with disabilities. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring communication strategies for each group and provides practical tips for enhancing communication skills. The section also includes a case study on adapting communication strategies for diverse patient profiles.

Section 5

Section 5 of the course focuses on consolidating communication skills and reflective practice. It includes techniques for providing clear explanations and ensuring patient understanding, as well as how to effectively elicit patient concerns. The section also covers the role of feedback and follow-ups in patient communication and the value of reflective practice in improving communication. The course ends with a summary and reflections on improving professional communication.

Course Reviews

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This course helped me improve my communication skills with patients. I appreciated the sections on legal and ethical considerations and the role-play exercises.

✅ Met Course Objectives

✅ Met Course Outcomes

✅ Would Recommend

✅ Had Positive Impact

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The course was very comprehensive and covered many aspects of communication in dental therapy. I found the techniques for communicating with different patient groups particularly helpful.

✅ Met Course Objectives

✅ Met Course Outcomes

✅ Would Recommend

✅ Had Positive Impact

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The course was well-structured and easy to follow. I liked the emphasis on empathy and active listening skills, and the opportunity for reflective practice was valuable.

✅ Met Course Objectives

✅ Met Course Outcomes

✅ Would Recommend

✅ Had Positive Impact

How do I access this course?

Just log in free to the Enhanced CPD Pro app and browse the catalogue.

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What devices does the app work on?

The Enhanced CPD Pro app can be used on any device with a browser. If you’re using a phone or tablet, you can add it to your homescreen for quick access.

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