Dramatic Communication -A Course for Doctors. Dr Chris Farnham Dr Anna Gorringe

Transcription

1 Dramatic Communication -A Course for Doctors Dr Chris Farnham Dr Anna Gorringe

2 Objectives Tell you about us To share with you: What we did with Dramatic Communications Why we did it How we did it What we learned Practical Session with Lucinda

3 Communication Skills Training Good communication skills are a training and professional priority for doctors. Traditional training uses actors in role-play scenarios. Participants remain in their professional role. Limited evidence does current training lead to a sustained improvement in doctors communication skills? Resource-intensive and complex to study

4 Why Dramatic Communication? Why on earth would a doctor want to go to drama school??

5 I have had little formal communication training and yet I work in an environment where I speak to many people in a shift, and often encounter challenging situations where communication is difficult. This innovative approach will be invaluable in offering a new insight D, Emergency Medicine Consultant

6 A video s

7 Why Dramatic Communication? Why on earth would a doctor want to go to drama school?? It s not about training you how to act your way through your professional role. Technique-based training. Authentic communication across a range of scenarios.

8 What is Dramatic Communication? Dynamic drama course. Sought to reinvent the traditional approach: pushing doctors out of the familiar framework into a more creative workshop space. Delivered by Central Connects in partnership with St John s Hospice. Funded by The Samuel Sebba Trust.

9 What is Dramatic Communication? Delivered over 8 weeks. 28 doctors in 3 cohorts. None had previously received Advanced Communication Skills Training. Range of specialties and seniority. Training delivered by an experienced Voice Trainer.

10 What is Dramatic Communication? Each session had specific objectives to introduce key theories and techniques. Explored voice and acting techniques. Doctors engaged as actors in role play, using scripts from historical and contemporary dramatic texts, poetry and political speeches. Shared feedback.

11 Week 1:Introduction and Assessments Group exercises Individual video-taped assessments with actors Vocal Skills Perceptual Profiles

12 Week 2: Effective Self-Management of the Voice and Body To explore the function of the body and breath and its impact on communication To identify how to conquer nerves and remain calm under stressful situations To explore the use of breath and posture through the Three Circles of Energy To experience effective energy and confidence for positive rapport To introduce conscious awareness skills; the psycho-physical approach.

13 Week 3: Personal Impact and Influence for Flexible Communication To identify choice of communication styles dependant on context and content for enhanced influence To understand the use of resonance and articulation for vocal quality and personal impact To explore the use of language, vocal tone and body language in communication To increase the appropriateness and effectiveness of your communication style with active listening skills, verbal and non-verbal cues. To transfer key learning skills to dramatic duologues that demonstrate realism; action and dialogues that echo everyday behaviour and speech.

14 Week 4: Paralinguistics To build awareness and effective use of body, breath and voice in communication To explore the use of paralinguistics for authentic and dynamic communication To use listening, verbal and non-verbal cues to increase the appropriateness and effectiveness of your communication style To explore variations in vocal quality and intonation patterns for authentic and engaging communication To use pitch, pause and pace for enhanced rapport An introduction to Forum theatre.

15 Week 5: Building Rapport To identify the impact of your language on the other in challenging situations To identify the patient perspective To explore the emotional response to language through nonverbal actions To develop the use of paralinguistics through metamessaging; exploring the effect on the other through emotional intention To develop rapport skills through matching and mirroring of body language; pacing and leading To identify the use of space in interpersonal relations (proxemics) To explore Cat/Dog behaviours as a technique for influential interaction and dual-awareness.

16 Week 6: Improving Interpersonal Dynamics through Archetypes To explore how to enter the space: presence, status and credibility versus approachability To identify language cues depersonalising the encounter but keeping human connection To explore empathic responses through gesture and voice To discover exercises for heightened listening

17 Week 6: Improving Interpersonal Dynamics through Archetypes To develop confident communication styles specific for interviewing To identify core techniques for giving and receiving information, asking questions and handling difficult clients To identify the role of archetypes and how they can be used for interpersonal dynamics and developing effective emotional response to language To explore the role of the modern-day healer from the creative perspective.

18 Week 7: Conflict Resolution and Communication in Challenging Situations To explore improvisation within dramatic and real-life dialogues to develop skills in conflict resolution To explore the actor s craft of improvisation in order to respond to challenging communication arenas To explore out of context role-play to identify communication styles for breaking bad news, articulating response and dealing with uncertainty To identify vocabulary choices for developing rapport or diffusing tension To recap on the basic rules of engagement in any interaction To personally reflect on own professional development.

19 Week 8: Final Assessment and Review Videoed assessments. Self-Assessment Forms and Forum Theatre Feedback and Course Review.

20 Impact of Training: Objective Assessment Modified Vocal Skills Perceptual Profile (VSPP), based on a tool developed by Christina Shewell for use in voice training. Participants were assessed during 3 videoed scenarios with actors before and after training. Scored in 11 domains of communication: body; breath; channel/vocal tract; phonation; resonance quality; pitch; loudness; articulation; paralinguistics; body language; communication style. The mean improvement in VSPP score following training was 13.2/55 (range 8-23).

21 Impact of Training: Subjective Assessment We asked participants to complete a self assessment of their communication skills before and after training. Participants rated themselves on 9 domains using a Likert Scale from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent). The mean improvement in self-assessment score following training was 9.1 (range 1-17).

22 Impact of Training: Participant Feedback Written feedback from participants to assess how the training was being received and develop the course further. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive 93% participants stating that what they learned could be put into practice 97% finding it relevant to their work 91% finding it stretched and developed them and their skills

23 (You) managed to get a group of scientists to embrace the arts: singing, humming, moving, laughing and playing games all with the aim of learning about theatre, performance and communication I feel that my patients have benefitted as a result. K, Palliative Medicine Trainee

24 Impact of Training: Attendance Given the innovative nature of this approach to communication skills training, we were keen to assess its acceptability to doctors, based on their attendance. Overall attendance was high (>80%) despite the significant time commitment of the course and the fact that it was delivered free of charge to participants.

25 Conclusion This pilot study suggests that actor training techniques are acceptable to doctors and lead to objective improvements in communication in videoed scenarios. This innovative form of communications training is worthy of further development.

26 And now for the practical demonstration Over to Lucinda...