A gestão dos espaços na consulta de medicina dentária na clínica universitária

Abstract

The present study seeks to provide a definition of the nonverbal components of communication and its importance in the communicative process in the context of consultation in Dentistry. Based on a dynamic theme, it begins by reflecting on the complexity of human communication, seen as an integrated whole of forms of behavior and processed at two levels: verbal and nonverbal. It is on the latter that this study focuses, highlighting research studies conducted in this area. Thus, regarding non-verbal communication, stripped of words, all information is obtained by means of vocal signs, physical appearance, kinetics, proxemics, physical contact, chronemics and (social) artifacts. Another aspect is the establishment of eye contact and the importance it plays in nonverbal communication. Finally, reflection gives rise to an exploratory study of nonverbal communication, namely the proxemic aspects in Dentistry. To this end, a video recording was made of twenty consultations in the Clínica Dentária Universitária, from the Centro Regional das Beiras – Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Shots were taken in the context of various medical and dental areas, later obtaining frames where distances of interaction and eye contact angles formed between the doctor and patient were measured. This was followed by analysis of the results obtained from a short questionnaire given to patients. From the quantitative description and comparative analysis of these, it was found that there are no overall differences between doctors in gender, year attended or subject area. The observations led to realize that the distance between doctor and patient are the intimate space (15 to 40cm) and the personal space (45 to 125cm). It was therefore concluded that, despite slight differences, nonverbal behavior of physicians in this sample did not differ in terms of level of performance.

Date of Award	Sept 2012
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Maria Filomena Capucho (Supervisor)