Communication training in the dental interview was conducted for 5th-year dental students through role playing and simulated patients. The purpose of this training was for students, through practicing and observing dental interviews, to acquire interviewing skills and to communicate with patients by considering the patient's point of view. A questionnaire regarding this training was administered to the students. The results revealed that the students realized the difficulty and the importance of communication with patients. The results also showed that the students learned what points they should keep in mind, how they can improve their own communication skills by communicating with patients, and the importance of understanding the patient's point of view. Moreover, students believed that this training would continue to be useful.

　Simulation specialist who masters simulators is important for a management of simulation center. Okayama university medical school started to train simulation specialists. Now simulation training are familiar in our university through the simulation specialists helps course directors.

The purposes of this study were to examine scales and to assess the effects of the training in clinical interviewing for dental students. The subjects to examine validity and reliability of the scale were 11 dentists and 25 dental school students. The subjects to assess the effects of the training were 16 dental school students, and were divided into a training group that was given the training and a control group that was not given the training. Kappa statistics revealed moderate agreement. The acceptable level of Cronbach's coefficient alpha for standardized patients in each case was obtained. The significant difference was found in the scores between the dentists and the students. The scores of training group and control group were not significantly different before the training. However, the training group had significantly higher scores than the control group after the training. These results confirmed the reliability and validity of this scale, and suggested that this training using simulated patient was effective for dental school students.

Introduction: This study aims at investigating what dental hygienists learned through training with a simulated patient and how they applied their learning in practice. Method: Open-ended questionnaire surveys on their perceptions and experiences of health communication were undertaken by 21 dental hygienists before and after communication trainings. Result: Before the training, they felt it difficult to cope with patients’ negative responses to their communication. However, after the training, they deeply considered how they should be as health professional through reflection on their own communication style. In their practice, they tried to communicate while considering the patient’s situation. Discussion: Participants’ critical reflection, which was encouraged in this training, resulted in application of their learning to clinical practice.