New & Noteworthy, February 2018

Contents include: Q & A: Elizabeth Bojsza and Lydia Franco-Hodges; VP Publications Kristin Leahey LMDA Review - Updates; Regional Updates.https://soundideas.pugetsound.edu/lmdanewsletter/1017/thumbnail.jp

Medical improvisation improves communication skills among healthcare professionals

While medical improvisation is emerging as a promising strategy for communication training, little is known about its effects on interdisciplinary healthcare teams and there is a need to advance knowledge about the impact of engagement during the training on communication skill improvement. We evaluated changes in communication skills among 132 healthcare professionals from one department at a large U.S. medical center who participated in medical improvisation (improv) communication training developed by a multidisciplinary team at a provost-level university-based center dedicated to communicating science. Participants took part in one of 15 single session in-person workshops delivered in October 2020 and co-facilitated by an improv expert and a seasoned clinician-scientist leader. Participants completed questionnaires regarding their communication skills before and after taking part in the training. Most of the self-reported communication skills that were assessed showed improvement following the workshop. Improvements were reported in 7 out of 8 communication skills that were assessed. Moreover, engagement moderated the effects of the training — among those with lowest pre-training communication skills, higher levels of engagement predicted greater improvement in communication skills, whereas low engagement predicted little change following the training. Medical improvisation is a promising approach to improve communication in healthcare. Further research is needed to estimate long-term effects of medical improvisation training and investigate ways to increase participant engagement

A mixed-methods program evaluation of the Alda Healthcare Experience- a program to improve healthcare team communication

Abstract Background Communication among interprofessional healthcare worker teams is critical to ensure a thriving and resilient workforce. We will evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the Alda Healthcare Experience (AHE), a novel medical improvisation (improv) workshop designed to improve interprofessional communication skills among healthcare professionals. The AHE workshop includes a two-hour experiential training workshop led by an improv specialist and a clinical co-facilitator. In July 2022 we began implementing the AHE workshop by training 18 clinical co-facilitators who will co-facilitate the workshops for 550 healthcare workers from five hospital departments at Stony Brook University Hospital over the course of a year and a half. Using mixed-methods, we will conduct an Effectiveness-Implementation Hybrid Design project that includes an outcome evaluation (effectiveness) and a process evaluation (implementation). Methods Our outcome evaluation will assess the impact of the AHE workshop on short- and long-term improvement in interprofessional communication, stress, and professional fulfillment. The process evaluation component will examine programmatic, organizational, and individual facilitators or barriers to effective implementation of the AHE workshop. Qualitative methods will include dimensional analysis employing individual interviews of 20–40 AHE Project Participants, 5–10 Selected Informants, and all the clinical co-facilitators. Quantitative methods will use a quasi-experimental longitudinal design with an intervention group and surveillance of a control group (wait-list) and repeated assessments using validated instruments measuring communications skills, professional fulfillment, stress, burnout, uncertainty tolerance, and teamwork. Discussion Effective and efficient communication within healthcare teams is fundamental to building team cohesion that, in turn, supports individual resilience and builds positive organizational culture. The AHE program is an innovative approach to improve interprofessional healthcare communication and reduce healthcare worker burnout. In addition to institutional buy-in, rigorous evaluations of medical improv programs are necessary as a critical step in making such programs scalable. Trial registration N/