An educational approach using interprofessional (IP) role plays and patient narratives to inculcate empathy and communication among undergraduates in breast cancer management

Background: Interactive teaching methods such as patient narratives and role plays are effective tools in medical education. Incorporating the patient's perspective of the disease and standardized treatment in the teaching process helps the students become more empathetic and have better doctor-patient communication.

Methods: An interactive module was conducted using role plays and patient narratives to teach communication skills and doctor-patient relationships to randomly chosen Seventy-seven final-year(4th year) medical students to address the various psychosocial problems faced by the patients with breast cancer. Participants' perspectives regarding the intervention were collected using pre and post-tests, session feedback, and interviews. The data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively, as appropriate. Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)stations with case scenarios to break bad news to simulated patients were used for the assessment.

Results: Most participants felt that such interactive sessions were needed where they played the role of a doctor before facing an actual patient. While reading the narratives, they felt that the narrators' emotions were genuine and that they felt involved. Most of them could relate to the social and emotional aspects of the patient and understood the Interprofessional (IP) teamwork in the treatment of a breast cancer patient. 93.4% of the participants felt they gained competence in managing difficult communication situations with patients.

Conclusion: Interactive teaching methods like narratives and role play may help enhance students' communication and empathy, which is vital for future doctors. They seamlessly integrate into existing curricula, offering practical experiences that deepen understanding and empathy without disrupting learning.