Trigger segments: towards improving listening skills?

Written 'trigger' segments depicting emotionally charged clinical situations arising from real patient encounters, and ending with a pertinent statement by the parent, were prepared and presented to senior medical students, postgraduate medical and allied professionals. They were asked to record their immediate reactions, how they would have responded and on reflection, how they ought to have responded. General discussion followed, highlighting various issues dealing with patient management. Trigger segments, a relatively simple teaching approach, allow students to experience difficult clinical situations and learn, in a relatively supportive environment of their peers, their own responses. Such triggers as part of a wider programme, may provide a further method to improve listening skills and increase personal understanding of the professional's own responses.