Improve with improv: Developing interprofessional communication skills in health professions students

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Communication
• Interprofessional Collaboration

Background:

• Effective communication is crucial for Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) competencies.
• Existing guidance for teaching communication skills to healthcare providers is insufficient.
• Medical improv offers an experiential framework to enhance patient-centered communication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of medical improv techniques on communication skills among health professions students.
• To assess student perceptions of an interprofessional case conference incorporating improv exercises.

Main Methods:

• 114 health professions students from 11 disciplines participated in a 60-minute interprofessional case conference.
• Students were randomly assigned to mixed-discipline groups and engaged in improv exercises guided by faculty.
• Post-seminar evaluations and supplemental surveys (Likert scale and open-ended questions) were used to gather data.

Main Results:

• 63 students completed the standardized evaluation; 16 students from seven disciplines completed the supplemental survey.
• Participants reported that the activities fostered community and skill development.
• Fewer participants agreed that the session improved their understanding of other professions' roles; free-text responses were generally positive.

Conclusions:

• Medical improv provides a valuable framework for enhancing communication among healthcare trainees.
• This method may be underutilized in healthcare training despite its benefits.
• Further research with larger sample sizes is recommended to compare medical improv with other communication frameworks.