ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CLINICAL CONFIDENCE LEVELS AND PATIENT COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN FINAL-YEAR BACHELOR OF DENTAL SURGERY STUDENTS
Keywords:
Communication Skills, Confidence, Cross-Sectional Studies, Dental Education, Dental Students, Interpersonal Relations, Professional CompetenceAbstract
Background: Clinical confidence and patient communication skills are essential competencies for dental graduates, yet their interrelationship in undergraduate dental education remains underexplored. Final-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students face increasing clinical demands, making the evaluation of these attributes critical for optimizing training outcomes.
Objective: To investigate the association between clinical confidence levels and patient communication skills among final-year BDS students in Lahore.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over five months among 132 final-year BDS students recruited from accredited dental colleges in Lahore. Data were collected using two validated instruments: the Dental Clinical Confidence Scale (DCCS) and the Communication Assessment Tool–Dental (CAT-D). Demographic information, cumulative grade point average (CGPA), and weekly clinical exposure hours were recorded. Pearson’s correlation assessed the relationship between clinical confidence and communication skills, while multiple linear regression evaluated predictors of communication performance.
Results: A total of 127 students completed the study (response rate 96.2%; mean age 23.4 ± 1.2 years; 53.5% female). The mean clinical confidence score was 68.9 ± 8.4, and the mean communication score was 64.7 ± 7.6. A significant positive correlation was found between clinical confidence and communication skills (r = 0.62, p < 0.001). Students with more than 20 hours of weekly clinical exposure reported higher confidence (70.8 ± 7.6) and communication scores (66.1 ± 7.2) compared to peers with less exposure (p < 0.01). Regression analysis confirmed clinical confidence as a significant predictor of communication skills (β = 0.59, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Higher clinical confidence was strongly associated with better patient communication skills among final-year BDS students. Targeted interventions that build clinical confidence and communication competence simultaneously may enhance the readiness of dental graduates for patient-centered care.
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