Dental Hygiene is a health profession that involves collaboration with other health care professionals (HCPs) to advance knowledge, profession integrity, client care, problem solving, and communication. Important attributes of being a Dental Hygiene professional include collaboration with others and effective communication skills, both of which are implicit in the Dental Hygiene Degree Program (DHDP) in which I am currently enrolled.
Before moving to Vancouver for schooling, I had only ever lived in my hometown of Powell River. At home I had a social network of family, and friends that always surrounded me. I held a full-time job where my coworkers and I worked together as a team to efficiently complete our interdependent tasks. At home I was an effective team player and communicator. However, upon moving to Vancouver, I discovered that relocating to a strange environment without my previous social support affected my communication and collaboration skills, a fact not unknown to research. (1,2)
According to McCroskey et al, (1) when social support is removed, self-perception is changed. This affects the attitudes and behaviours of individuals in groups. Since being in the DHDP, I have had numerous experiences of working in teams to better prepare myself for my future career, such as in Problem Based Learning scenarios. Often I feel social anxiety when faced with group work. At home, I had never felt this way; in my mind, I was a “confident person”. Lowered confidence is a factor that may influence ability to communicate. (2) Social anxiety has resulted in me being less confident and shyer than my previous self-concept had included.
Interestingly, in the study performed by Marteau et al, (2) the judgment one had of his/her communication skills was not accurate; in fact it was quite poor. Perhaps this shyness I thought I had possessed was a false picture I had created in my mind. Moreover, the social anxiety I feel is not only limited to myself, but is experienced by everyone in society. (3) This social anxiety arises from thoughts of apprehension on how others might perceive him/her (3). Which is quite normal to experience, especially when surrounded by people you do not know very well. Becoming accustomed to communicating effectively with people I know well and those I do not will be an important skill to work on as a lifelong learner.
When I reflect on my participation in teamwork within the DHDP, I realize that I generally play a strong role in taking responsibility and expressing relevant thoughts, despite communication apprehension. I probably do not feel any excess amount of apprehension or anxiety than any other person around me. I look at my communication abilities as a learning experience and I am actually quite excited about my part in collaborating with other HCPs and clients. If I could accomplish and hone these abilities at home, then I certainly am able to do the same here. Despite being away from my original social support, I know I carry with me the encouragement of my friends and family. Furthermore, I know that I have already started to find social support in Vancouver. Despite being nervous, I know I am a confident person. I am able to listen and cooperate with a team. It is time my self-perception changed to match who I really am.
References
- Mccrowskey JC, Richmond VP, Daly JA. Studies of the relationship between communication apprehension and self-esteem. Human Comm Research 1977; 3(3):269-277
- Marteau TM, Humphrey C, Matoon G, Kidd J, Lloyd M, Horder J. Factors influencing the communication skills of first-year clinical medical students. Med Educ 1991; 25(2):127-134.
- Schlenker BR, Leary MR. Social anxiety and communication about the self. J Lang and Soc Psychol 1985; 4(3):171-192.