Interactive theater: an innovative conflict resolution teaching methodology.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Communication Skills Training
• Healthcare Simulation

Background:

• Rising incidence of verbal abuse directed at healthcare professionals in pediatric settings.
• Need for effective strategies to equip staff with skills to manage aggressive patient family interactions.
• Limitations of traditional training methods in fostering behavioral change for complex interpersonal dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a novel workshop utilizing interactive theater for enhancing staff assertive communication skills.
• To provide a supportive environment for healthcare workers to practice managing verbal abuse scenarios.
• To assess the potential of interactive theater as a tool for behavioral change in healthcare education.

Main Methods:

• Development of a workshop incorporating interactive theater techniques.
• Professional actors performed realistic clinical skits depicting scenarios of family verbal abuse.
• Participants actively engaged by entering scenarios to modify communication and achieve positive resolutions.

Main Results:

• Interactive theater facilitated emotive learning experiences crucial for skill acquisition.
• Participants demonstrated an increased capacity to alter communication styles within simulated abusive encounters.
• The method proved effective in practicing assertive responses to verbal aggression.

Conclusions:

• Interactive theater is a valuable strategy for training healthcare staff in managing verbal abuse.
• This approach fosters essential emotional learning and promotes sustainable behavioral changes.
• Educators can integrate interactive theater into training programs aimed at improving staff responses to challenging patient interactions.