Medical Improvisation Training as a Vehicle to Improve Empathetic Communication Skills in Nutrition and Dietetics Students

Medical improvisation, based on the theater, is the adaptation of improvisational techniques to achieve medical objectives including empathetic patient-provider communication. Theatrical improvisations are unscripted dialogues among actors, intended to meet performance goals. In this pilot study, 2 consecutive cohorts of graduate-level dietetics students (N = 26) received 6 hours of medical improvisation training over their respective 9-month academic years. Pre- and postintervention questionnaires indicated statistically significant increases in students' perception scores regarding specific components of empathetic communication including collaboration, flexibility, and self-confidence. Medical improvisation training may be a promising avenue for developing communication skills among nutrition and dietetics students.