Compassionate Communication During Early Pregnancy Loss: Using Forum Theatre to Train Emergency Medicine Residents

Compassionate communication is a critical skill when caring for patients experiencing early pregnancy loss (EPL) in the emergency department; however, medical learners often have limited opportunities to practice this skill in a psychologically safe, low-stakes environment before interacting with patients experiencing a loss in the clinical setting.

The goal of this innovation was to develop a novel simulation experience using forum theatre techniques to enhance empathy, confidence in communicating about loss, and compassionate communication skills of emergency medicine (EM) residents when diagnosing an EPL, delivering the diagnosis, and discussing management options while providing emotional support.

Using forum theatre (i.e., an experiential learning technique that uses interactive theatre for exploring and performing transformative actions), we developed an innovative training for first-year (PGY-1) and second-year (PGY-2) EM residents to practice compassionate communication strategies. Post-surveys, conducted immediately after the intervention, assessed the training's effectiveness to enhance empathy, demonstrate compassionate communication techniques, and encourage personal reflection.

Twenty-three PGY-1 and eight PGY-2 EM residents participated in separate training sessions. Survey responses indicated enhanced empathy and confidence, recognition of the importance of addressing patients' emotional needs, awareness of compassionate communication strategies through modeled examples, and reflection of individual communication behaviors.

An innovative, simulation-based training using forum theatre offers learners a structured opportunity to practice and refine compassionate communication strategies. By enhancing EM residents' empathy and confidence in communicating compassionately with patients experiencing EPL, this educational experience offers a novel way to address communication gaps in training and can be easily integrated into existing curricula.