Process evaluation of a medical improvisation program for healthcare communication training

ABSTRACT

Background

Medical improvisation is an innovative approach to train healthcare professionals in effective communication. The success of this type of training depends on the active engagement of participants.

Method

A total of 136 interprofessional healthcare workers completed surveys before and after a two-hour medical improvisation communication training session in October 2020. We investigated individual- and program-level contributors to participation outputs (e.g. engagement and experience).

Results

97% of healthcare professionals in the participating department took part in the training. 82% described the training in positive terms or as a learning experience. Younger participants, medical doctors, and those who had difficulty tolerating uncertainty were less excited than others about training. Their engagement was associated with their excitement and group size. Uncertainty tolerance predicted engagement via a full mediation of excitement.

Conclusions

Building excitement, reducing uncertainty about training, and capping group size are likely to improve participant’s engagement and experience and will inform dissemination and implementation efforts.

KEYWORDS:

• Communication training
• Medical improvisation
• Program evaluation
• Interprofessional healthcare teams
• Continued medical education
• Process evaluation
• Mixed-methods
• Logic model

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Heidi Preis

Heidi Preis is Research Scientist at the Department of Pediatrics, Renaissance School of Medicine, and the Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.

Elizabeth Bojsza

Elizabeth Bojsza is an assistant professor of practice and the improvisation lead at the Alda Center for Communicating Science^© and an Affiliate to the School of Journalism and the Department of Theater, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.

Laura Lindenfeld

Laura Lindenfeld is Executive Director of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science^© and Dean of the School of Journalism at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.

Tong J. Gan

Tong J Gan, M.D is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.

Susmita Pati

Susmita Pati is the Chief Medical Program Advisor of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science^©. She is Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of the Division of Primary Care Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Renaissance School of Medicine, and Stony Brook Children's Hospital, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.