Dental students’ perceptions of learning communication skills in a forum theatre-style teaching session on breaking bad news

Introduction: Communication skills are an integral component of dental undergraduate education. Due to the complex nature of these skills, didactic teaching methods used in other educational contexts can be limited. Interactive and participative methods rooted in modern adult learning theories, such as Forum Theatre, may be more effective in the teaching of communication skills. Aim: To explore the usefulness of Forum Theatre in teaching clinical undergraduate dental students how to break bad news to their patients.Methods: A purposive sample of 4th-year undergraduate dental students was invited to participate. An evaluation questionnaire was given to the students and collected after the Forum Theatre interactive session. Participants were asked to provide self-reported accounts on the most and least useful parts of the session, as well as the most important learning outcome. Usefulness of the session in clinical work, increasing confidence and ability in breaking bad news, were evaluated via a 5-point Likert-scale type question. Qualitative data were analysed using Framework Analysis to explore the themes found in the open-text component. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the Likert-scale items.Results: One hundred and fifteen completed questionnaires were collected from the 2015 and 2016 classes. Most students gave the Forum Theatre session a rating of 3 or above on a 5-point Likert scale; indicating that they found it useful. Qualitative results also showed that most participants liked the teaching session thanks to its interactive nature, the use of actors and the input of the facilitators. The majority of students showed preference towards smaller groups which give everyone equal opportunity to participate without unnecessary repetition.Conclusion: The results seem to confirm previous findings. Students rated their learning experience involving Forum Theatre favourably. Smaller groups and trained facilitators are required for the success of this teaching method. Further research is needed to assess the long-term educational benefits of Forum Theatre.</p

Unique features of a global human ectoparasite identified through sequencing of the bed bug genome

The bed bug, Cimex lectularius, has re-established itself as a ubiquitous human ectoparasite throughout much of the world during the past two decades. This global resurgence is likely linked to increased international travel and commerce in addition to widespread insecticide resistance. Analyses of the C. lectularius sequenced genome (650 Mb) and 14,220 predicted protein-coding genes provide a comprehensive representation of genes that are linked to traumatic insemination, a reduced chemosensory repertoire of genes related to obligate hematophagy, host–symbiont interactions, and several mechanisms of insecticide resistance. In addition, we document the presence of multiple putative lateral gene transfer events. Genome sequencing and annotation establish a solid foundation for future research on mechanisms of insecticide resistance, human–bed bug and symbiont–bed bug associations, and unique features of bed bug biology that contribute to the unprecedented success of C. lectularius as a human ectoparasite

Improvement in the Interpersonal communication Skills of Dental Students

This study compared the interpersonal communication skills of seventy-eight third-year dental students when interacting with their patients before and after they participated in a thirty-five-hour course that addressed recognition of anxiety, interviewing techniques, patient records, behavior management, and patient relations. Students were evaluated before and after attending the course by psychology graduate students who used a behavioral observation form that measured expressive and receptive communication skills, nonverbal communication skills, professional presentation, and sensitivity to cultural, ethnic, and gender diversity. At the conclusion of this course, students\u27 interpersonal skills were rated significantly higher than prior to the course at the p\u3c.0001 level. The outcomes of this study indicate that effective communication between dental students and their patients may be acquired and refined through a course that addresses basic interviewing skills

Balance Sheet of the Farming Sector, 1975

The January 1, 1975, value of farm assets totaled $520.2 billion. Debt amounted to$81.8 billion, leaving proprietors’ equity of $438.4 billion. The total figures were records but increases were not; the increase in debt slowed somewhat and the gains in assets and equity were half what they were during 1973. The value of farm real estate showed a$46.1 billion increase, machinery and motor vehicles added another $11.6 billion, and other assets experienced modest increases, but a drop in the value of livestock of$17.8 billion reduced the gain in all assets to $44.3 billion. Total farm debt rose$7.7 billion during 1974; real estate debt increased about 12 percent in 1974 and nonreal estate debt about 10 percent. Revisions in estimates of nonreal estate debt owed to merchants, dealers, and other miscellaneous lenders substantially lowered the farm debt-to-asset ratio. On January 1,1975, the debt-to-asset ratio was 15.7 percent, about the same as a year earlier but down considerably from 16.9 percent on January 1,1973. Substantially higher farm incomes in 1973 and later probably helped reduce farmers' demand for borrowed money. Returns to equity in farm production assets during 1974 was 5.8 percent, substantially higher than the average since 1960 but sharply below the 10.5 percent for 1973, as increased production expenses outran gains in farm income. The Balance Sheet of the Farming Sector now includes data for Alaska and Hawaii beginning with 1960; formerly estimates were available for only the 48 contiguous States through 1968