Bridging the humanities and health care with theatre: Theory and outcomes of a theatre-based model for enhancing psychiatric care via stigma reduction.

Abstract

Objective: This article describes the rational, methods, implementation, and effectiveness of Identity Development Evolution and Sharing (IDEAS), an evidence-supported, narrative theater-based training that reduces stigma among health care providers to increase health care equity in psychiatric rehabilitation. Method: The IDEAS model has been used to reduce provider bias toward patients. From May 2017 to January 2020, we interviewed people from three patient groups who have been harmed by stigma, including Black women, transgender, and gender-diverse people, and people with substance use disorders. These interviews informed the creation of three theatrical scripts that were performed by professional actors for audiences of health care providers from January 2020 to May 2022. The performances aimed to raise conscious awareness of implicit provider biases and to provide a reflective opportunity to ameliorate these biases. The purpose of IDEAS is to improve experiences in health care settings such as psychiatric rehabilitation of patients from groups who have been harmed by stigma. We used paired-samples t tests to compare pre/postprovider stigma, measured via the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-Stigma (AAQ-S). Results: Sociodemographic factors for providers who viewed IDEAS were similar across all three performances. IDEAS significantly decreased AAQ-S scores (t = 11.32, df = 50, M = 13.65, 95% confidence limit: [11.32, 15.97], p < .0001). Conclusions and Implications for Practice: IDEAS reduces provider stigma to support positive clinical encounters with diverse patient populations. These findings are

Unique contributions from the arts on the process and practice of psychiatric rehabilitation.

“…She concludes that by engaging with art when one is uncertain or facing a clinical or personal challenge, practitioners can increase their insight and develop creative solutions that may contribute to psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery. Wasmuth et al (2023) describe a narrative theater-based training, "Identity Development Evolution and Sharing," to reduce stigma among health care providers and increase healthcare equity. Interviews of individuals who have been harmed by stigma, including Black women, transgender and gender diverse people, and individuals with substance use disorders, informed the creation of three theatrical scripts that were performed by professional actors for audiences of health care providers and found to reduce providers' stigma.…”