An educational approach using interprofessional (IP) role plays and patient narratives to inculcate empathy and communication among undergraduates in breast cancer management

Abstract Background Interactive teaching methods such as patient narratives and role plays are effective tools in medical education. Incorporating the patient's perspective of the disease and standardized treatment in the teaching process helps the students become more empathetic and have bette...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Caren D’souza, Animesh Jain, Tatiyana Mandal, Ciraj Ali Mohammed, Kishan Prasad HL, Supriya Pinto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:BMC Medical Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05997-9
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846165153960165376
author Caren D’souza
Animesh Jain
Tatiyana Mandal
Ciraj Ali Mohammed
Kishan Prasad HL
Supriya Pinto
author_facet Caren D’souza
Animesh Jain
Tatiyana Mandal
Ciraj Ali Mohammed
Kishan Prasad HL
Supriya Pinto
author_sort Caren D’souza
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Interactive teaching methods such as patient narratives and role plays are effective tools in medical education. Incorporating the patient's perspective of the disease and standardized treatment in the teaching process helps the students become more empathetic and have better doctor-patient communication. Methods An interactive module was conducted using role plays and patient narratives to teach communication skills and doctor-patient relationships to randomly chosen Seventy-seven final-year(4th year) medical students to address the various psychosocial problems faced by the patients with breast cancer. Participants' perspectives regarding the intervention were collected using pre and post-tests, session feedback, and interviews. The data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively, as appropriate. Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)stations with case scenarios to break bad news to simulated patients were used for the assessment. Results Most participants felt that such interactive sessions were needed where they played the role of a doctor before facing an actual patient. While reading the narratives, they felt that the narrators’ emotions were genuine and that they felt involved. Most of them could relate to the social and emotional aspects of the patient and understood the Interprofessional (IP) teamwork in the treatment of a breast cancer patient. 93.4% of the participants felt they gained competence in managing difficult communication situations with patients. Conclusion Interactive teaching methods like narratives and role play may help enhance students' communication and empathy, which is vital for future doctors. They seamlessly integrate into existing curricula, offering practical experiences that deepen understanding and empathy without disrupting learning.
format Article
id doaj-art-edcce7c3906a4a0795f7b6ba3e291d9f
institution Kabale University
issn 1472-6920
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Medical Education
spelling doaj-art-edcce7c3906a4a0795f7b6ba3e291d9f2024-11-17T12:33:33ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202024-11-0124111110.1186/s12909-024-05997-9An educational approach using interprofessional (IP) role plays and patient narratives to inculcate empathy and communication among undergraduates in breast cancer managementCaren D’souza0Animesh Jain1Tatiyana Mandal2Ciraj Ali Mohammed3Kishan Prasad HL4Supriya Pinto5Department of General Surgery, K S Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte UniversityDepartment of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher EducationDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology, Manipal Academy of Higher EducationMedical Education, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, National University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Pathology, K S Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte UniversityDepartment of General Surgery, Christian Medical College and HospitalAbstract Background Interactive teaching methods such as patient narratives and role plays are effective tools in medical education. Incorporating the patient's perspective of the disease and standardized treatment in the teaching process helps the students become more empathetic and have better doctor-patient communication. Methods An interactive module was conducted using role plays and patient narratives to teach communication skills and doctor-patient relationships to randomly chosen Seventy-seven final-year(4th year) medical students to address the various psychosocial problems faced by the patients with breast cancer. Participants' perspectives regarding the intervention were collected using pre and post-tests, session feedback, and interviews. The data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively, as appropriate. Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)stations with case scenarios to break bad news to simulated patients were used for the assessment. Results Most participants felt that such interactive sessions were needed where they played the role of a doctor before facing an actual patient. While reading the narratives, they felt that the narrators’ emotions were genuine and that they felt involved. Most of them could relate to the social and emotional aspects of the patient and understood the Interprofessional (IP) teamwork in the treatment of a breast cancer patient. 93.4% of the participants felt they gained competence in managing difficult communication situations with patients. Conclusion Interactive teaching methods like narratives and role play may help enhance students' communication and empathy, which is vital for future doctors. They seamlessly integrate into existing curricula, offering practical experiences that deepen understanding and empathy without disrupting learning.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05997-9Role playsNarrativesMedical educationInteractive teaching
spellingShingle Caren D’souza
Animesh Jain
Tatiyana Mandal
Ciraj Ali Mohammed
Kishan Prasad HL
Supriya Pinto
An educational approach using interprofessional (IP) role plays and patient narratives to inculcate empathy and communication among undergraduates in breast cancer management
BMC Medical Education
Role plays
Narratives
Medical education
Interactive teaching
title An educational approach using interprofessional (IP) role plays and patient narratives to inculcate empathy and communication among undergraduates in breast cancer management
title_full An educational approach using interprofessional (IP) role plays and patient narratives to inculcate empathy and communication among undergraduates in breast cancer management
title_fullStr An educational approach using interprofessional (IP) role plays and patient narratives to inculcate empathy and communication among undergraduates in breast cancer management
title_full_unstemmed An educational approach using interprofessional (IP) role plays and patient narratives to inculcate empathy and communication among undergraduates in breast cancer management
title_short An educational approach using interprofessional (IP) role plays and patient narratives to inculcate empathy and communication among undergraduates in breast cancer management
title_sort educational approach using interprofessional ip role plays and patient narratives to inculcate empathy and communication among undergraduates in breast cancer management
topic Role plays
Narratives
Medical education
Interactive teaching
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05997-9
work_keys_str_mv AT carendsouza aneducationalapproachusinginterprofessionaliproleplaysandpatientnarrativestoinculcateempathyandcommunicationamongundergraduatesinbreastcancermanagement
AT animeshjain aneducationalapproachusinginterprofessionaliproleplaysandpatientnarrativestoinculcateempathyandcommunicationamongundergraduatesinbreastcancermanagement
AT tatiyanamandal aneducationalapproachusinginterprofessionaliproleplaysandpatientnarrativestoinculcateempathyandcommunicationamongundergraduatesinbreastcancermanagement
AT cirajalimohammed aneducationalapproachusinginterprofessionaliproleplaysandpatientnarrativestoinculcateempathyandcommunicationamongundergraduatesinbreastcancermanagement
AT kishanprasadhl aneducationalapproachusinginterprofessionaliproleplaysandpatientnarrativestoinculcateempathyandcommunicationamongundergraduatesinbreastcancermanagement
AT supriyapinto aneducationalapproachusinginterprofessionaliproleplaysandpatientnarrativestoinculcateempathyandcommunicationamongundergraduatesinbreastcancermanagement
AT carendsouza educationalapproachusinginterprofessionaliproleplaysandpatientnarrativestoinculcateempathyandcommunicationamongundergraduatesinbreastcancermanagement
AT animeshjain educationalapproachusinginterprofessionaliproleplaysandpatientnarrativestoinculcateempathyandcommunicationamongundergraduatesinbreastcancermanagement
AT tatiyanamandal educationalapproachusinginterprofessionaliproleplaysandpatientnarrativestoinculcateempathyandcommunicationamongundergraduatesinbreastcancermanagement
AT cirajalimohammed educationalapproachusinginterprofessionaliproleplaysandpatientnarrativestoinculcateempathyandcommunicationamongundergraduatesinbreastcancermanagement
AT kishanprasadhl educationalapproachusinginterprofessionaliproleplaysandpatientnarrativestoinculcateempathyandcommunicationamongundergraduatesinbreastcancermanagement
AT supriyapinto educationalapproachusinginterprofessionaliproleplaysandpatientnarrativestoinculcateempathyandcommunicationamongundergraduatesinbreastcancermanagement