Perceptions of Dental Students on the Use of Mock Debates to Enhance Their Oral Communication Skills: An Exploratory Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND: Oral communication is an essential skill of dental professionals that directly influences the quality and success of patient care. However, digital reliance negatively affects students' interpersonal communication skills. This study explored the perceptions of dental students regarding mock debates as a tool for enhancing their oral communication skills, thus addressing the need for innovative strategies in dental education. METHODS: This exploratory qualitative study was conducted at the Dental College. The study utilized a structured debate activity involving 75 second-year dental students and focus group discussions (FGD) with 12 purposively selected participants representing diverse performance levels. Data from the FGDs were analyzed thematically via NVivo to capture the depth of participants' experiences and insights. RESULTS: Four themes emerged from the analysis: interpersonal communication competence, holistic personal growth, comparative effectiveness, and challenges with the proposed solutions. The students reported improved verbal and nonverbal communication, critical thinking, confidence, and teamwork through debates. Debates were highlighted as complementary to other teaching strategies, such as problem-based learning and small-group discussions. Challenges include the complexity of debate rules, loud environments, and limited preparation time. The participants recommended simplified structures, repeated exposure, and constructive feedback to enhance debate effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Mock debates provide a practical and engaging approach for improving oral communication skills in dental education. Debates align well with the pedagogical goals of dental curricula by fostering communication skills augmented by critical thinking, active listening, and teamwork. Future research should explore the longitudinal impacts and refine debate formats to maximize educational outcomes.