University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
Most dentists (student and experienced) report verbal or physical aggression from patients; still others experience sexual harassment or aggression from patients. These behaviors may be instigated by problematic doctor-patient communication as well as patient anxiety, fear, or stress in the dental clinic setting. With training, students are better prepared to identify and respond to patients’ behavior before it escalates. In this session, you will learn about the prevalence of patient aggression toward student dentists and explore your past experiences with aggressive behaviors by patients. You will also learn strategies to prevent patient aggression and how to respond if it occurs.
Learning Objectives:
Describe the extent to which dental students experience patient aggression.
Reflect on their own past experiences of patient aggression.
Theorize ways to teach students how to prevent or respond to patient aggression.
