Utilising Drama to Improve Medical Communication

Lyndsay Muir, Senior Lecturer in Teacher Development and Drama at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), has collaborated on a study into the practical application of drama skills in clinical practice to boost communication. Communication skills, in and outside the world of medicine, are vital skills for everyone, but none more so perhaps than for doctors and patients in the critical context of clinical practice. ‘The Drama of Communication’ is a collaborative piece of work between applied drama specialists’ highly experienced medical professionals and their educators. It explores how techniques borrowed from educative drama practice can be applied to help qualified doctors in their work. Working with GPs and experienced GP trainers practical exercises in facial expression and gesture, the ‘great duet’ in communication terms, are used to explore the whole orchestra of skills humans have available to them to improve the impact and effectiveness of their work as professionals. ‘The Drama of Communication’ is featured in The Clinical Teacher, 2017, 14:60-62. Key partners in the project were Joanna Murphy (Professional Support Unit, Health Education), Professor Johnny Lyon-Maris (GP Education Unit, Southampton General Hospital) and Dr Samantha Scallan, (Department of Interprofessional Studies, University of Winchester). For more information for how to start your learning adventure on one of our innovative Drama or PGCE courses visit our website or contact our Enquiries Team.