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

Abstract

Background and purpose: Medical improvisation (improv) is increasingly being used to teach physicians, nurses, and other caregivers how to better communicate with patients and other members of the healthcare team. This article describes how improvisational activities were incorporated within an existing pharmacy practice lab course and how to implement improv games targeting specific communication skills.

Educational activity and setting: Three hours of improvisational activities were incorporated into a semester-long pharmacy practice lab course. Partner games such as "the mirror" and group games such as "out-of-order story" were played and connected to communication skills related to counseling or taking a patient's history. Additional activities were introduced targeting specific areas of weakness identified in a formative assessment.

Findings: A survey was used to assess student perceptions of the improv activities. Students were largely able to connect the skills learned in improv to pharmacy, and some provided examples of how they were already implementing these skills in practice.

Summary: This article provides a user manual so that faculty with little to no improv experience can include these activities in their communications courses.

Keywords: Communication; Communicator; Counseling; Improv; Improvisation; Theater.