The aim of the study is to self analyse the enhancement in reading skills amid dental undergraduate and postgraduate students in Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals by self assessment, over a span of one year between both sexes. Introduction. Reading is one of the important factors in our personal and professional life, improving our communication skills, increasing our knowledge and ability to express our opinion. Effective communication between a dentist and their patients can improve overall satisfaction and contribute to better long-term treatment outcomes. It is essential in dentistry, as it provides the means by which dentists can get to know their patients and ensure that they understand what has been said to them. Materials and methods. A survey was performed with 449 dental students of Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals. A questionnaire was distributed to them through an online portal system. The questions asked the students about their age, sex, year of study, inviting them to rate their reading capacity an year before and now. Data was collected and statistically analysed using SPSS software 26 version. The statistical tests used were Independent T test and One way Anova. Association of the above variables was done using cluster bar graphs. Results and discussion. The results obtained showed a statistically significant difference between the perception of reading capacity among dental students in both groups (p<0.05), as well as enhancement in reading capacity over a period of one year, in both males and females. However, there was no statistical significant difference between sexes (p>0.05). Conclusions. Students of Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals showed enhanced reading capacity over a span of one year.
Keywords:- communication
- dental students
- reading skills