Empathy is an important trait for healthcare professionals, including dentists. Empathy involves being able to understand and share the feelings and experiences of others—especially patients who may be anxious or in pain. If you are pursuing a bachelor of dental surgery course and looking for tips to nurture empathy, here is a useful read:
- Observe and listen: As an aspiring dentist, it is important to pay attention to what patients tell you and take the time needed to understand their problems. Because patients are often anxious about their condition, carefully observe them and listen patiently when they complain. As a student pursuing a Bachelor of Dental Surgery course, it is important that you understand the patient’s concern without missing any minute yet significant details. Listen to what the patient has to say about their problem, ask them questions, reassure them. It shows empathy when a dentist engages in conversation with a patient rather than just asking cold or impersonal questions during an exam
- Reflect on your own experiences: Consider the times when you have been a patient. Think of your anxiety and plight when you were in a similar vulnerable situation. The minute you will start to think about how it is like to be in their shoes, you will automatically show empathy towards your patients. Being sensitive and considerate of someone’s plight, makes the person put their faith in you and helps them open up about their problems.
- Engage in community service: Participating in voluntary activities and community service programs can help you understand and acknowledge the experiences of others. It gives you an idea about the dispositions of various people and their backgrounds. Engaging in multiple outreach programs is a great way to get to know people and their stories. You get used to listening to people with patience and appreciation.
- Seek feedback: It is very important to ask for feedback from patients. Similarly, feedback from colleagues can affect your empathy and communication skills. You can improve the skills you might be lacking in from the regular experiences with patients and colleagues.
- Practise empathy in daily life: It takes the bare minimum to be kind and understanding to people. Practising empathy in your daily lives not only helps you improve in your job, it also makes you a better person. Be empathetic towards your friends, family and colleagues. It will help you to develop the habit of being kind and empathetic to people in your personal and professional life.
Along with technical skills, empathy is an important skill as it helps dentists build trust and rapport with the patients. When dentists display empathy, patients are more transparent with them about their problems. This openness and transparency improves overall treatment outcomes.
Are you looking for a good college to pursue a Bachelor of Dental Surgery course?
Explore the Bachelor of Dental surgery course at Karnavati School of Dentistry. It is a 5 year undergraduate degree program. The program provides students with the knowledge and skills to diagnose and treat dental and oral health issues in patients. At KSD, the learning process is made more interesting and interactive, drawing students’ attention. The training that the students receive at KSD provides them with a wide array of practical exposure, which helps them with both coursework and clinical work.