Relationships of trainee dentists\' empathy and communication characteristics with simulated patients\' assessment in medical interviews

Objectives We aimed to clarify the characteristics of communication between trainee dentists and simulated patients (SPs) and to examine how the level of trainee dentists’ self-reported empathy influences assessment by SPs in medical interviews. Materials and methods The study involved 100 trainee dentists at Okayama University Hospital and eight SPs. The trainee dentists conducted initial interviews with the SPs after completing the Japanese version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy. Their interviews were recorded and analyzed using the Roter Interaction Analysis System. The SPs assessed the trainees’ communication immediately after each interview. The trainee dentists were classified into two groups (more positive and less positive groups) according to SP assessment scores. Results Compared with the less positive trainees, the more positive trainees scored higher on the [Emotional expression] and lower on the [Medical data gathering] Roter Interaction Analysis System categories. There was no difference in [Dental data gathering] between the two groups. The SPs of more positive trainees had higher rates of [Positive talk] and [Emotional expression] and lower rates of [Medical information giving] and [Dental information giving]. The trainees with more positive ratings from SPs had significantly higher Jefferson Scale of Empathy total scores. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that responding to the SPs’ emotions is a relevant characteristic of dentist–SP communication to SPs’ positive assessment in medical interviews. Further, trainees’ self-reported empathy was related with the SPs’ assessment of trainees’ communication, which indicated that patient satisfaction can be improved by increasing the dentist’s empathy. Thus, an empathic attitude among dentists is a significant determinant of patient satisfaction.