ABSTRACT Purpose Effective communication and empathy are core competencies in patient‐centred dental care. However, structured training in these skills is often limited in dental curricula. This study explored the association between a structured communication and body language course and dental students awareness of nonverbal communication, empathy‐related attitudes, and patient‐centred perspectives. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted among 390 final‐year dental students at Ankara University Faculty of Dentistry. Group 1 ( n = 195) had not received formal communication training, whereas Group 2 ( n = 195) had completed a 39 h structured course including theoretical and practical components. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, communication awareness, nonverbal communication practices, and empathy‐related attitudes. Group differences were analysed using chi‐square tests for categorical variables and independent samples t‐tests for composite scores, with a p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results Students who received training reported significantly higher awareness of the role of body language ( p = 0.035), greater support for its inclusion in the curriculum ( p = 0.037), and increased attention to instructors' nonverbal cues ( p = 0.0028). They also reported more frequent use of positive nonverbal behaviours, such as maintaining eye contact (97.4% vs. 92.0%, p = 0.042), using gestures and facial expressions (93.8% vs. 84.3%, p = 0.028), and adjusting tone of voice (90.8% vs. 80.1%, p = 0.014). Empathy‐related attitudes were significantly stronger in the trained group, including better recognition of patients' emotions (88.3% vs. 76.5%, p = 0.015), greater comfort in showing empathy (85.3% vs. 70.8%, p = 0.007), and a stronger belief that empathy can be taught (88.5% vs. 74.1%, p = 0.008). The overall mean scores for communication awareness, nonverbal communication, and empathy‐related attitudes were all significantly higher in the trained group ( p < 0.05). Conclusions Structured communication and body language training significantly enhance dental students awareness and use of nonverbal communication and strengthen empathy‐related attitudes. Integrating experiential communication training into dental education may support the development of more empathetic, patient‐centred clinical practice.
Efeoğlu et al. (Sun,) studied this question.