Medical trainees at Mayo Clinic attend improvisation classes to enhance their interactions with patients
In a groundbreaking move, the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota has integrated improv comedy classes into the training of its medical residents, aiming to improve their communication skills and empathy towards patients [1][3][4]. This innovative approach is part of a growing trend in the medical community, seeking non-traditional methods to augment clinical communication beyond standard medical education.
The effectiveness of this novel training method remains to be seen, as no detailed quantitative data or peer-reviewed study results directly measuring its impact on bedside manner or empathy at the Mayo Clinic have been reported [1][3][4]. However, the rationale behind the initiative is rooted in a growing body of evidence suggesting that improv training, which emphasizes active listening, spontaneity, empathy, and adaptive communication, can foster skills critical for patient-centered care [2].
During these improv sessions, medical residents engage in various exercises designed to boost their skills. For instance, they participate in games such as the yes-and game, where every sentence begins with "yes, and" and discussions revolve around a topic, like food. They also practice exercises like tossing an imaginary ball and mirroring each other's movements, which are intended to foster teamwork and comfort with humor and empathy [3].
The improv classes are led by improv comedy coach Tane Danger, who guides the residents through these unique experiences. One such session saw first-year resident, Dr. Manvir Sandhu, initiating an improv exercise about food with Dr. Tea Pere. This interaction led Dr. Sandhu to recognise the importance of paying closer attention to her patient's body language [3].
Dr. Sandhu, who also expressed a fondness for sushi, believes that the skill of reading body language can't be learned from a textbook [3]. She expressed her gratitude for the improv workshops, stating that they help medical residents think on their feet in evolving situations.
The Loser Ball game, another staple of these workshops, encourages participants to fail in a fun way, thereby fostering a comfortable environment for learning and experimentation [3]. Dr. Chris Boswell, who oversees the improv training for the medical residents, emphasised the importance of this game in helping residents be comfortable with humor, curiosity, and empathy.
Dr. Tea Pere, another participant in these sessions, believes that the yes-and approach can help open conversations with patients and build trust [3]. She connects this improv exercise to her work with patients, stating that it encourages active listening and adaptive communication, both essential for effective patient care.
In conclusion, the Mayo Clinic's use of improv comedy training for medical residents is an active and promising effort to enhance bedside manner and empathy. While there is currently no publicly available data from Mayo Clinic demonstrating its effectiveness in this specific context, the approach is based on reasonable educational principles [1][3][4]. Further research, including published outcome studies, is needed to assess its actual impact.
- The integration of improv comedy classes at Mayo Clinic is not limited to communication skills and empathy; it also extends to areas like health-and-wellness, personal-growth, and career-development, as interactive methods like the Loser Ball game foster a comfortable environment for learning and experimentation.
- In addition to boosting skills through games, the improv sessions aim to improve mental-health and teamwork among medical residents, as observed during sessions where they practice exercises like mirroring each other's movements and the yes-and game, encouraging adaptive communication and empathy.
- Improvisation training, with its emphasis on active listening, spontaneity, empathy, and adaptive communication, is not a non-traditional method exclusive to the medical community; it can be applied to education-and-self-development, as evidenced by its growing adoption across various sectors.
- As the effectiveness of improv training in improving patient-centered care remains inconclusive, with no detailed quantitative data or peer-reviewed studies directly measuring its impact, it is essential to continue researching its actual benefits in the realm of fitness-and-exercise, health-and-wellness, mental-health, and overall personal development.
