Piloting an Interprofessional Narrative-Based Interactive Workshop for End-of-Life Conversations: Implications for...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Narrative Medicine
• Interdisciplinary Communication

Background:

• Explores narrative-based workshops for clinicians involved in end-of-life (EOL) conversations.
• Utilizes principles of Narrative Medicine to enhance clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of a narrative-based workshop on clinicians.
• To understand how narrative engagement influences EOL conversations and clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-two clinicians participated in interactive, narrative-based workshops.
• Participants engaged with narratives through viewing, writing/sharing, and co-construction.
• Post-workshop interviews were thematically analyzed.

Main Results:

• Five key themes emerged regarding workshop impact: responding to patient stories, interprofessional communication, and self-care.
• Identified barriers to narrative learning and obstacles to applying narrative principles in practice.
• Highlighted the value of reflective writing and sharing narratives for emotional processing.

Conclusions:

• Narrative workshops enhance clinicians' ability to process emotions and engage with patient stories.
• Addresses challenges like writing anxiety and time constraints for future narrative initiatives.
• Emphasizes the utility of narrative forms in improving clinical communication and care.