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The use of drama and theatre in enhancing communication skills of psychiatry trainees: a pilot study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 June 2021

Laura Stevenson*
Affiliation:
North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust
Farooq Khan
Affiliation:
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Qusai Bharmal
Affiliation:
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Opeyemi Odejimi
Affiliation:
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Sheliza Samnani
Affiliation:
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Polly Wright
Affiliation:
The Hearth Centre
*
*corresponding author.
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Abstract

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Aims

Various methods have been employed in the development of communication skills. This pilot study was designed to assess the acceptability, feasibility and cost-effectiveness of a specially designed workshop exploring the use of drama and theatre in enhancing the self-reported communication skills of psychiatry trainees. As a secondary aim, it assessed if the value of the improvements translated both into clinical practice and to training situations, including success in the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) Clinical Assessment of Skills and Competencies (CASC) examination.

Method

A three-day drama and theatre workshop was organised in the West Midlands Deanery in conjunction with specialist instructors from performing arts at the Hearth Centre, Birmingham. The Tension State technique developed by Jacques Lecoq and Forum Theatre approach, were some of the methods employed to enable participants to develop the softer, but essential communication skills required for effective practice. Work was also undertaken focussing on self-regulation. Fourteen trainees completed the first day of the workshop. This pilot study utilised a mixed methodology to evaluate participants’ views of the perceived impact of using drama and theatre to enhance their communication skills. Feedback was obtained from organisers and facilitators specifically relating to feasibility and cost effectiveness. Data were collected from participants using pre and post-workshop questionnaires and focus groups.

Result

All participants reported a positive and enjoyable experience, indicating that the approach was acceptable to those involved. The facilitators deemed this more novel approach to enhancing communication skills feasible, and cost effective and concluded that there was scope to incorporate it into routine psychiatry training in the area. It was however identified that the content of the workshop could be condensed, reducing the length therefore to two days. There was a notable increase in participants’ self-reported confidence in their communication skills post compared to pre-workshop. Trainees reported utilising the techniques in day-to-day practice. All of those participants who undertook the CASC examination during the workshop were successful, although it would be too presumptive to assume a causative effect. The workshop was completed without any adverse events and there were no concerns from a safety perspective.

Conclusion

Drama and theatre, as a novel approach, appears to have noticeable benefits in enhancing the communication skills of psychiatry trainees. The success of this pilot study in demonstrating acceptability, feasibility and cost effectiveness, suggests that drama and theatre techniques could be easily incorporated into psychiatry training and potentially other medical education programmes.

Type
Education and Training
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
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