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T H E S T U D Y : C A N D O C U M E N T I N G O L D E R A D U L T S ’ L I F E S T O R I E S I M P R O V E D E N T A L S T U D E N T S ’ E M P A T H Y ?

W H A T W E D I D

In late 2020, we conducted a small pilot study. It was our first time doing online research, so we
needed to test our plan. We kept training sessions short as the students were at home, some with
unstable internet connections. Also, since the student and older adults were strangers, it was hard for
them to build a connection over video call. There were also technical issues in recording the interviews
over WhatsApp video call. Still, the five students completed their tasks well, thanks to their
determination and the two kind ladies who agreed to participate. Based on the pilot, we made several
improvements to our study.

During the semester break in August 2021, we began data collection. Our study involved 17 dental
students and 8 older adults. Over an eight-week period, we held three online training sessions to
develop the students’ skills in interviewing, writing and building rapport. We met weekly to address
any issues and keep the students motivated. During the same period, the students completed the life
story documentation task with their assigned interviewee. Via online meeting apps or video call, the
students interviewed the older adults about their lives and then created the biography and write up.
The finished biographies and stories were reviewed by the interviewee. The students also completed
the pre-and-post surveys and recorded their feedback in vlogs.

Figure 3 shows the timeline of our research programme

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