“Yes, and…”: Improvisational Theater (Improv) as a Novel Educational Tool in Interdisciplinary Palliative Care

• Published in: Journal of pain and symptom management Vol. 67; no. 5; p. e588
• Main Authors: Salant, Jennifer A., Singh, Navendra, Ansell, Pamela, Adelman, Ronald D., DellaCava, Elaina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.05.2024
• ISSN: 0885-3924; 1873-6513
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.02.398

1. Participants will learn and understand the principles of improvisational theater, and how they may be utilized to enhance interdisciplinary palliative care education and team dynamics. 2. Participants will be able to describe how the implementation of an improvisation theater skills session may be studied in an academic interdisciplinary palliative care program. The art form of improvisational theater (improv) is introduced and explored as an innovative educational tool in an interdisciplinary palliative care program. By partnering with a local NYC improv theater company, a novel educational session was developed that utilizes the principles of improv theater to enhance communication, flexibility and teamwork in a large academic interdisciplinary palliative care program. The delivery of high-quality interdisciplinary palliative care requires a flexible and nuanced approach tailored to each patient, family, and clinical scenario. As there is a level of unpredictability in any clinical encounter, palliative care clinicians are sometimes required to improvise (i.e. “think on their feet”) while remaining mentally and emotionally available to the needs of their patients and families. Improvisational theater (improv) is an art form that relies upon teamwork, adaptability, listening skills, creativity, and emotional intelligence. It is also a tool that may help palliative care clinicians navigate challenging clinical encounters. Additionally, improv fosters team-building, another crucial element in the practice of high-quality palliative care. There is a growing and compelling body of research to support the use of improv in medical education and training. In this presentation, we introduce a pilot project in which the interdisciplinary palliative care teams from Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia University Medical Center partnered with "Improvolution," a New York City based improvisational theater company, to create a session introducing improv techniques to palliative care teams. Through participation in dedicated improv exercises, participants honed their skills in active listening, collaboration, and working with mistakes. We share examples of improv exercises developed specifically for palliative care clinicians to enhance communication and build confidence and flexibility in challenging palliative care clinical scenarios. Additionally, we provide survey data from participants in this pilot project, demonstrating the perceived impact of the improv session on their confidence and communication skills. After engaging in this presentation, attendees will have a more comprehensive understanding of the discipline of improv theater, and its potential benefits in interdisciplinary palliative care education, training, and team-building. Interdisciplinary Teamwork / Professionalism / Communication