Connecting improvisational exercises and pharmacy communication skills: A how-to guide

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Communication Skills Training
• Pharmacy Practice

Background:

• Medical improvisation (improv) is increasingly utilized to enhance communication skills among healthcare professionals.
• Effective communication is crucial for patient care and healthcare team collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the integration of improvisational activities into a pharmacy practice lab course.
• To provide a guide for implementing improv games targeting specific communication skills in pharmacy education.

Main Methods:

• Incorporated three hours of improv activities into a semester-long pharmacy practice lab.
• Utilized partner and group improv games (e.g., "the mirror," "out-of-order story") linked to pharmacy communication tasks.
• Introduced targeted activities based on formative assessment of student weaknesses.

Main Results:

• A survey indicated that students perceived the improv activities as beneficial.
• Students demonstrated an ability to connect improv skills to pharmacy practice scenarios.
• Some students reported applying learned communication skills in real-world practice.

Conclusions:

• Improvisational activities can be effectively integrated into pharmacy curricula to improve communication skills.
• This approach offers a practical method for educators to enhance student communication abilities.
• The article serves as a manual for faculty to implement improv in communication courses.