In clinical practice, we are constantly met with patients who don’t “get it”, whether their home oral hygiene behaviors never change or they resist accepting treatment. Our automatic reaction may be to blame them. But what about us? In the age of social media, the dental team is constantly faced with dispelling misinformation and false advertising. This combined with dental anxiety and existing mistrust create constant communication barriers between patients and dental providers. Simple and concise patient education tools in the dental setting can combat these factors and potentially improve patient outcomes. Stop blaming the patient, and let’s improve our own techniques. This session will make you rethink how you engage with patients. You will learn how to revitalize patient education by applying simple concepts of readability, plain language, and communication techniques.

Participants will learn:

• How to define readability in the context of patient communication and oral health education
• How to define plain language and prepare an example of using it for their next written/spoken communication
• How to identify at least three communication techniques from the American Medical Association that will improve patient understanding

Presenters:

Dr. Tien Jiang

More courses with Dr. Tien Jiang

Tien Jiang is an assistant professor in the Department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) where she provides expertise in education and prosthodontics. As a prosthodontist, Dr. Jiang teaches in the HSDM predoctoral pre-clinic and clinic and practices at Zwell Dental in Littleton, MA. Dr. Jiang’s interests include interprofessional education and practice, health literacy, patient education, and curricular reform. Dr. Jiang is the 2023 recipient of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine Fellowship in honor of Aina M. Auskaps, DMD for her work in health communication and patient education.

Dr. Jiang earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree at HSDM. Afterward, she moved to the Midwest to specialize in Prosthodontics at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Jiang also completed a Master of Education in Instructional Leadership at UIC College of Education.