From ‘spectating’ to ‘spect-acting’: medical students’ lived experiences of online Forum Theatre training in consulting with domestic abuse victims
Abstract Introduction Health care professionals, including general practitioners, have an important role in the care of those affected by domestic abuse. Therefore, it is important that healthcare professionals are adequately trained in recognising features of domestic abuse and supporting victims i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Advances in Simulation |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41077-022-00208-1 |
| _version_ | 1818273459021545472 |
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| author | Daire McGrath Gerard J. Gormley Helen Reid Paul Murphy |
| author_facet | Daire McGrath Gerard J. Gormley Helen Reid Paul Murphy |
| author_sort | Daire McGrath |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Health care professionals, including general practitioners, have an important role in the care of those affected by domestic abuse. Therefore, it is important that healthcare professionals are adequately trained in recognising features of domestic abuse and supporting victims in disclosure. Founded by Augusto Boal, Forum Theatre is a drama methodology that can permit an experiential and immersive learning experience; lending itself well to a subject matter of oppressed individuals. In this study we aimed to gain a deep understanding of medical students’ lived experiences of training in consulting with individuals who experienced domestic abuse using an online format of forum theatre. Methods A multidisciplinary team developed an online forum theatre training exercise, which involved a simulated consultation between a general practitioner and domestic abuse victim. Our qualitative approach used hermeneutic phenomenology to explore the participants’ lived experiences of this training. Following the online forum theatre experience, we analysed 11 participant interviews using template analysis to structure the phenomenological interpretation. Results We developed five themes through our analytical process: 1) ‘Almost being there…but not quite’: the realistic experience of forum theatre; 2) ‘Taken on an emotional journey’ 3) ‘Opening and controlling a privileged space’; 4) ‘Small things matter…’: cultivating and maintaining rapport and 5) Critically reflecting on future professional self. Discussion This study offers fine-grained insights into medical students’ experiences of an online immersive forum theatre training exercise in consulting with individuals who have been affected by domestic abuse. Online forum theatre has the potential to provide a simulated and meaningful approach to train medical students about domestic abuse. By providing students with a unique opportunity to step into a General Practitioner’s shoes in a domestic abuse consultation, students can practise how they manage a consultation with an impacted individual through a safe, guided, and experiential approach. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T21:58:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-197bbe3f74814a22983bc9a1a9cecd9b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2059-0628 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T21:58:18Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advances in Simulation |
| spelling | doaj.art-197bbe3f74814a22983bc9a1a9cecd9b2022-12-22T00:10:34ZengBMCAdvances in Simulation2059-06282022-04-01711910.1186/s41077-022-00208-1From ‘spectating’ to ‘spect-acting’: medical students’ lived experiences of online Forum Theatre training in consulting with domestic abuse victimsDaire McGrath0Gerard J. Gormley1Helen Reid2Paul Murphy3Centre for Medical Education, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University BelfastCentre for Medical Education, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University BelfastCentre for Medical Education, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University BelfastDrama Studies, School of Arts, English and Languages, Queen’s University BelfastAbstract Introduction Health care professionals, including general practitioners, have an important role in the care of those affected by domestic abuse. Therefore, it is important that healthcare professionals are adequately trained in recognising features of domestic abuse and supporting victims in disclosure. Founded by Augusto Boal, Forum Theatre is a drama methodology that can permit an experiential and immersive learning experience; lending itself well to a subject matter of oppressed individuals. In this study we aimed to gain a deep understanding of medical students’ lived experiences of training in consulting with individuals who experienced domestic abuse using an online format of forum theatre. Methods A multidisciplinary team developed an online forum theatre training exercise, which involved a simulated consultation between a general practitioner and domestic abuse victim. Our qualitative approach used hermeneutic phenomenology to explore the participants’ lived experiences of this training. Following the online forum theatre experience, we analysed 11 participant interviews using template analysis to structure the phenomenological interpretation. Results We developed five themes through our analytical process: 1) ‘Almost being there…but not quite’: the realistic experience of forum theatre; 2) ‘Taken on an emotional journey’ 3) ‘Opening and controlling a privileged space’; 4) ‘Small things matter…’: cultivating and maintaining rapport and 5) Critically reflecting on future professional self. Discussion This study offers fine-grained insights into medical students’ experiences of an online immersive forum theatre training exercise in consulting with individuals who have been affected by domestic abuse. Online forum theatre has the potential to provide a simulated and meaningful approach to train medical students about domestic abuse. By providing students with a unique opportunity to step into a General Practitioner’s shoes in a domestic abuse consultation, students can practise how they manage a consultation with an impacted individual through a safe, guided, and experiential approach.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41077-022-00208-1Domestic abuseForum TheatreGeneral practitioners (GPs)SimulationMedical student |
| spellingShingle | Daire McGrath Gerard J. Gormley Helen Reid Paul Murphy From ‘spectating’ to ‘spect-acting’: medical students’ lived experiences of online Forum Theatre training in consulting with domestic abuse victims Advances in Simulation Domestic abuse Forum Theatre General practitioners (GPs) Simulation Medical student |
| title | From ‘spectating’ to ‘spect-acting’: medical students’ lived experiences of online Forum Theatre training in consulting with domestic abuse victims |
| title_full | From ‘spectating’ to ‘spect-acting’: medical students’ lived experiences of online Forum Theatre training in consulting with domestic abuse victims |
| title_fullStr | From ‘spectating’ to ‘spect-acting’: medical students’ lived experiences of online Forum Theatre training in consulting with domestic abuse victims |
| title_full_unstemmed | From ‘spectating’ to ‘spect-acting’: medical students’ lived experiences of online Forum Theatre training in consulting with domestic abuse victims |
| title_short | From ‘spectating’ to ‘spect-acting’: medical students’ lived experiences of online Forum Theatre training in consulting with domestic abuse victims |
| title_sort | from spectating to spect acting medical students lived experiences of online forum theatre training in consulting with domestic abuse victims |
| topic | Domestic abuse Forum Theatre General practitioners (GPs) Simulation Medical student |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41077-022-00208-1 |
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