title: Using Movies to Strengthen Learning of the Humanistic Aspects of Medicine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Movie screening and activities have been used during the last two semesters (spring and summer 2015) to strengthen the learning of communication skills, empathy, professionalism, and greater understanding of the process and death and dying at the Xavier University School of Medicine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present manuscript describes the movie screening and activities. Student feedback regarding the sessions is also mentioned.
  
  
  METHODS
  The activity was conducted among basic science undergraduate medical students and student feedback was obtained. A cross-sectional study design was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Feedback was obtained towards the end of June 2015 using a questionnaire designed by the authors. Participants were asked to rate their degree of agreement with the set of statements and provide an overall rating for the sessions. No demographic information was collected.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cronbach's alpha was calculated as a measure of internal consistency. The normality of distribution of the scores of individual statements and of the overall rating was determined using one sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The average scores were calculated. Free text comments were tabulated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-nine of the 63 students (77.8%) participated in the study. Cronbach's alpha was 0.868 indicating a high level of internal consistency. The median scores indicating the degree of agreement with most statements ranged from 3 to 5. The mean participant rating of the sessions was 7.10 (maximum possible score 10). A few participants provided free text comments regarding the sessions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Student feedback about the session was positive. Impact of the session on humanistic issues, professionalism and death and dying should be studied in future.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Medical Education, Xavier University School of Medicine , Kingdom of the Netherlands .
authors.forename: Pathiyil Ravi
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Shankar
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Behavioural Sciences, Xavier University School of Medicine , Kingdom of the Netherlands .
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Xavier University School of Medicine , Kingdom of the Netherlands .
authors.forename: Ramanan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balasubramanium
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Microbiology, Xavier University School of Medicine , Kingdom of the Netherlands .
authors.forename: Atanu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nandy
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Xavier University School of Medicine , Kingdom of the Netherlands .
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Friedmann
keywords: Caribbean; Feedback; Humanities; Medical humanities; Professionalism