LM316 - “H” Is for Humor and Health Care: Implementing Improv Comedy in Audiology to Increase Health Equity

Abstract:
This session addresses how to introduce the art of improvisational comedy into the science of audiology. Audiologists improvise in every patient interaction, and this session will share techniques that can enhance communication skills, focus on listening, and foster a positive and supportive environment for patients and colleagues alike. Improv focuses on creating safe spaces to share life experiences through games/exercises. This session will cover the basics of improv and provide opportunities to observe or participate in games that are fun and experiential as an introduction to what the famous Second City theater troupe describes as "improvised caregiving.

Summary:
Audiologists improvise each day with patients and colleagues, as flexibility and adaptability are inherent in what we do. This session is designed to provide a framework for incorporating the tenets of improvisational comedy ('improv") into clinical care, team building, and interprofessional collaboration. Improv is a fun, active, experiential learning approach that immediate feedback. The basic tenets of improv include listening attentively, responding effectively, and being innovative in a safe environment.

As collaboration is the heart of improv, this practice has been incorporated into interdisciplinary healthcare environments. For clinicians, it is not purely about comedy but, rather, “improving advanced communication skills” which can later inform our patient interactions (Bartosch, 2020). Over the past 10 years, groups from Second City, Medical Improv, and several universities have developed improv courses geared toward caregivers. In what Second City "improvised caregiving", improv training encourages healthcare providers to “follow one’s fear, see obstacles as gifts, and make mistakes work for you;” techniques that have demonstrated improved outcomes in team building and patient engagement (AMA, 2020)

Improv exercises focus on creating a safe environment for risk-taking and these games help to build skills in active listening and adaptation important skills when working with patients as they adapt to changes in their hearing and communication with others. Relationships are crucial for optimizing patient outcomes, Chin says, thus improv builds confidence in going off script, making bold choices, and thinking on our feet (Beasley, 2021). Chin (2019) discusses joining their hobby of improv with their profession of medicine and states "the outstanding clinician, like the proficient improv artists, draw[s] on his or her rich life experience to connect with and care for all patients."  
One of the most well known pillars of improv is the "yes, and" concept, which affirms another's truth and builds on the reality that is set. A “yes, and” environment encourages others to step out of their comfort zone and to express their authentic self, which can positively impact overall communication and self-esteem, important aspects of patient care.

As audiologists, using this concept in clinical care and teambuilding can expand options for those involved and create solutions that may have been overlooked if the answer was automatically no or if the response was "yes, but.

This session will provide tenets of improv and explain how they can be incorporated into clinical care. Participants will be given specific resources about improv and will have the opportunity to participate in games/exercises used in learning the art of improv. The session will focus on being able to try some basic improv activities in a safe environment and anyone is welcome to participate in the session whether they want to participate in the games/exercises or observe. It is designed to introduce audiologists to fun and engaging techniques that can expand their skills in working with patients and peers. The presenters will give examples of how to integrate these skills into clinical care and answer questions about participating in improvisation.