Objective: The aim of the study was to develop a curriculum in relational communication skills to third year dental students in the School of Dentistry, University of Pretoria.
Methods: The process of curriculum development followed in the study comprised the following phases: Phase I: (i) Evidence from the literature (ii) Macro analysis of the South African dental market
Phase II: (i) Identify outcomes & development of a rubric of required communication skills (ii) Develop a curriculum according to the South African Qualifications Authority format (Purpose, Embedded knowledge, Assessment criteria)
Phase III: (i) Implementation by means of an action learning and - research approach.
Results: „X Quantitative results: both male and female students, as well as the class as a whole, scored significantly higher during training cycle 2 compared to training cycle 1 (p < 0.0001) for five of the six dimensions of the rubric (except Dimension: "Opening the interview"). „X Qualitative results: students' confidence to interact in a relaxed way with the "patient" was enhanced by role-playing a structured interview,. Furthermore, the important roles of trust, empathy and active listening in establishing a meaningful relationship with a patient, were emphasised by most of the students.
Conclusion: The outcomes-based curriculum developed for this study provided a sound foundation for the learning experiences of undergraduate dental students.