Twelve tips for using applied improvisation in medical education

Abstract

Future physicians will practice medicine in a more complex environment than ever, where skills of interpersonal communication, collaboration and adaptability to change are critical. Applied improvisation (or AI) is an instructional strategy which adapts the concepts of improvisational theater to teach these types of complex skills in other contexts. Unique to AI is its very active teaching approach, adapting theater games to help learners meet curricular objectives. In medical education, AI is particularly helpful when attempting to build students’ comfort with and skills in complex, interpersonal behaviors such as effective listening, person-centeredness, teamwork and communication. This article draws on current evidence and the authors’ experiences to present best practices for incorporating AI into teaching medicine. These practical tips help faculty new to AI get started by establishing goals, choosing appropriate games, understanding effective debriefing, considering evaluation strategies and managing resistance within the context of medical education.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interests. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Krista Hoffmann-Longtin

Krista Hoffmann-Longtin, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, and an Assistant Dean for Faculty Development at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Jonathan P. Rossing

Jonathan P. Rossing, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Department Chair of Communication Studies at Gonzaga University.

Elizabeth Weinstein

Elizabeth Weinstein, M.D., is an Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine.