Workshop 1. Conversations with learners: Using the arts in undergraduate medical education to challenge thinking about diversity and professional behaviours

Hammond, Anna; Pearson, Libby; Baxter, Ian

Abstract

Working with students in developing humanistic approaches to care, diversity and constructive professional behaviours can be difficult. Diversity and ‘professionalism’ as curricular areas may be met with suspicion by students as it does not fit the clearer scientific paradigm with which students are more naturally comfortable. Learning activities are easily dismissed as unnecessary and there are difficulties inherent in ‘teaching’ in this area. Facilitating learning of important, sensitive information is not well served by more traditional didactic approaches, but more creative approaches to learning are easily rejected.

We adopted a transformative approach to learning (Mezirow 1990) to challenge established views, without patronising. ‘The Purple List – A Gay dementia venture’- a one-act drama has been written and performed by two of our Simulated Patients. It is a moving, emotional and involving performance delivered by 'Sam' enacting the impact of his partner Derek's dementia as it progresses over a two year period. We developed a workshop to supplement the play, in consultation with the author/actor, to further highlight important aspects of diversity, professionalism and humanistic care for Year 3 MBBS students at the Hull York Medical School.

Delegates will watch a recording from the play. The workshop authors will facilitate an open Q&A session with the actor, author and delegates, to explore the development of this teaching event. The author and actor will provide feedback to the delegates regarding their extensive experience in using this performance as a training tool with a wide variety of delegates (including health professionals, carer associations, medical students and LGBT groups, UK and Australia). The workshop facilitators will present a thematic analysis of the critical reflections and feedback from medical students as an example of the learning experienced from this activity.

Delegates will share areas of where their own curricula which may benefit from similar educational approaches.

Citation

Hammond, A., Pearson, L., & Baxter, I. (2022, October). Workshop 1. Conversations with learners: Using the arts in undergraduate medical education to challenge thinking about diversity and professional behaviours. Presented at Medical Schools UK Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Network Online Meeting

• Presentation Conference Type: Other
• Conference Name: Medical Schools UK Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Network Online Meeting
• Start Date: Oct 5, 2022
• End Date: Oct 5, 2022
• Deposit Date: Dec 18, 2023
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4491182
• Publisher URL: https://le.ac.uk/cls/cls-equality/medical-schools-uk-edi-meeting/edi-workshops#Workshop1