title: Grace Under Pressure: a drama-based approach to tackling mistreatment of medical students.
abstract: A positive and respectful learning environment is fundamental to the development of professional identities in healthcare. Yet medical students report poor behaviour from healthcare professionals that contradict professionalism teaching. An interdisciplinary group designed and implemented a drama-based workshop series, based onapplied theatretechniques, to help students develop positive professional qualities and interpersonal skills to deal with challenges in the healthcare setting. We piloted the workshops at the University of Sydney in 2015. Attendees completed evaluation questionnaires and participated in a focus group or interview. Of 30 workshop attendances, there were 29 completed questionnaires and three participants attended a focus group or interview. Workshop activities were rated as 'very good' or 'good' by 21/22 (95.5%). Thematic analysis of qualitative data highlighted the rationale for participation (to deal with bullying, prevent becoming a bully, learn social skills), workshop benefits (express emotions, learn about status dynamics and deconstructing personalities, empathy, fun), challenges (meeting participants' expectations, participants' need for further practice) and implications for medical education (need to develop awareness of others' perspectives). Our research has shown that there is momentum to challenge mistreatment in medical education. While a multipronged approach is needed to generate systemic change, this pilot offers a positive and creative innovation. It helps students improve their interpersonal skills and sense of self to deal with challenges in the healthcare setting, including mistreatment.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0721-6675
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Centre for Values, Ethics and Law in Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.|Indigenous Business Australia and Ernst & Young, Sydney, New South Wales,, Australia.
authors.forename: Špela
authors.initials: Š
authors.lastname: Berlec
authors.affiliation: Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.|Health Education and Training Institute of NSW Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nash
authors.affiliation: Centre for Values, Ethics and Law in Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hooker
authors.affiliation: Department of Theatre and Performance Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dwyer
authors.affiliation: Centre for Values, Ethics and Law in Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Macneill
authors.affiliation: Sydney Nursing School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: River
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Kimberley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ivory
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D001315:Australia; D058445:Bullying; D003479:Curriculum; D004324:Drama; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000941:ethics; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000068616:Professionalism / Q000193:education; D036301:Qualitative Research; D066107:Social Skills; D013337:Students, Medical; D013663:Teaching; D014495:Universities