Exploring the Value of Improvisational Theater in Medical Education for Advancing the Doctor–Patient Relationship and Health Equity

Abstract

Health care inequities persist, and it is difficult to teach health professions students effectively about implicit bias, structural inequities, and caring for patients from underrepresented or minoritized backgrounds. Improvisational theater (improv), where performers create everything in a spontaneous and unplanned manner, may help teach health professions trainees about advancing health equity. Core improv skills, discussion, and self-reflection can help improve communication; build trustworthy relationships with patients; and address bias, racism, oppressive systems, and structural inequities. MethodAuthors integrated a 90-minute virtual improv workshop using basic exercises into a required course for first-year medical students at University of Chicago in 2020. Sixty randomly chosen students took the workshop and 37 (62%) responded to Likert-scale and open-ended questions about strengths, impact, and areas for improvement. Eleven students participated in structured interviews about their experience.

Medical Improvisation: Impact of Training on Medical Students’ Experience with Communication on Clinical Rotations - A Single-Center Mixed-Methods Study

“…Like prior studies of medical improvisation, students in our study noted improvements to exibility or the "ability to think on one's feet," 10,13 as well as skills related to fundamental principles of improv including "yes, and" 6,9,10,15 and accepting mistakes, 6 listening skills, 8,11,22 and con dence. 7,8 Also similar to past studies of improv-based training, students rated our course highly, 6-10,22-24 perceived a positive impact on their professional development, 6,11,22 and experienced bene ts to their wellbeing. 11,22 With the rising mental health burden among healthcare providers, 25 the importance of identifying training strategies that positively impact professional development, wellness, and personal growth cannot be overstated.…”

“…The communication skills that students found challenging echo those previously reported in the limited existing literature exploring this topic. [32][33][34] Medical improv may again be useful in building con dence in these communication skills, as it has previously been utilized to teach skills around empathy, 9,12,13,15,22 clear communication, 2,9 serious news disclosure 20 , and con ict resolution. 24 Strengths/Limitations:…”

“Just Join Them”: Improv and Dementia Care

“…The promise of improv training as a clinical innovation and intervention requires further investigation. It is being delivered and evaluated with positive outcomes in medical schools (e.g., Hoffman-Longtin et al, 2018; Rusiecki et al, 2023) and in hospital settings (e.g., Preis et al, 2022; Sanky, 2023). Additional work is needed to develop and refine care partner curriculum tied to specific improv skills in the context of dementia care that is appropriately tailored to diverse care partner types and populations and care settings.…”

Preface

“…An article by Rusiecki and colleagues 12 explores the value of improvisational theater, which can teach relationship building, empathy, and adaptability to unexpected situations, during medical education as a means of improving the doctor–patient relationship and, ultimately, health equity.…”