Abstract
Objective:To explore student’s perceptions regarding impact of kinesics (facial expressions, gestures, head movements and postures) on undergraduate medical education.Methods:A qualitative exploratory online survey was conducted from July-Sept 2020 among purposively chosen final year BDS students (n=150) of three dental colleges of Islamabad during COVID-19 lockdown phase. Semi-structured survey questions were validated and piloted before execution. Thematic analysis was performed, and consensus was built among all authors regarding findings, hence ensuring analytical triangulation.Results:Response rate was 46% (69/150). Twenty sub-themes emerged under three domains of kinesics. Participants told that ‘neutral expressions’ frequently used by teachers create ‘boring learning environment’ and ‘hesitation among students to ask questions.’ A smile of teacher imparts ‘new degree of interest in the subject’ and gives ‘freedom of expression’ to the students. On contrary, anger ‘demotivate’ students, instills ‘fear among them’, make them anxious therefore, they are ‘unable to understand lectures’ which ultimately leads to ‘loss interest in the subject’. Use of gestures by teachers creates ‘enjoyable teaching-learning process’ but movements such as clearing throat or shaky legs produce ‘constant split-second interruption’. Moreover, standing posture of teachers bring ‘interest and alertness among students’.Conclusion:Nonverbal communication can have positive or negative impact on undergraduate medical education. Therefore, teachers may start lecture with a smile and anger should be avoided to produce friendly and healthy learning environment. Faculty training is required for the effective use of nonverbal communication strategies to create an optimal learning environment for the students.
Highlights
Humans are socially connected to each other with the help of communication whichCorrespondence: January 18, 2021 May 27, 2021 June 5, 2021 is the greatest gift by Allah. 1,2 Communication comprises of verbal and nonverbal types.[2]
Each question was labelled with theme denoting main domains of kinesics e.g., theme-1 denoted impact of facial expressions, theme-2 dealt with impact of gestures and theme-3 was regarding impact of head movements and postures
Comparing with a previous study held on teachers at government secondary schools of Peshawar district of Pakistan,[16] most of our findings are same showing that kinesics have impact on students and their learning environment
Summary
Humans are socially connected to each other with the help of communication whichCorrespondence: January 18, 2021 May 27, 2021 June 5, 2021 is the greatest gift by Allah. 1,2 Communication comprises of verbal and nonverbal types.[2]. Humans are socially connected to each other with the help of communication which. 1,2 Communication comprises of verbal and nonverbal types.[2] Verbal communication remained a fundamental skill to be taught and learned in medical field.[3] It constitutes 45% proportion of human communication which involves spoken words (38%) and tone of voice (7%).[1,2] Whereas, nonverbal communication (NVC) or body language constitutes 55% proportion of human communication and is attracting medical education community from the past three decades.[4] NVC is an important skill needed for the teachers while they are interacting to large group of students because it effects positively on student’s mood.[1]. Pak J Med Sci November - December 2021 Vol 37 No 7 www.pjms.org.pk 1849
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