2017 Volume 33 Issue 1 Pages 39-44
Abstract It is not advisable for medical professionals to use medical terminology frequently when talking with patients. Medical interview practices were conducted through role-plays involving students, and role-plays with simulated patients in training programs for medical professionals. However, when role-plays were carried out by students alone, because of their similar educational backgrounds, they tend not to notice medical terms. Moreover, judging whether terms are technical or not varies depending on the experience of the instructor. Therefore, at Nihon University School of Dentistry, 4th year students were assigned to submit their role-play scripts and the key words used were investigated.
As a result, 3 instructors selected 24 terms out of 63 scripts as medical or technical terms. Different terms were selected depending on whether the instructors were dentists or not and/or depending on their research fields. Among those terms, a tendency was found that students intensively used particular synonyms, such as periodontal disease, appendicitis and colorectal cancer. Especially those who acted as patients frequently used the terms and expressions that were found in the patient scenario. This indicates the significance of scenario production and suggests the necessity of making proper and appropriate scenarios.
