Module Summary
Storytelling can be used as an effective pedagogical tool to help students think more critically about their practice but also as a means through which to give students a sense of pride and belonging within an interprofessional team. Collaborative practice strengthens health systems and has been shown to improve health outcomes (WHO, 2010). When storytelling is integrated into collaborative practices it becomes a highly powerful tool for putting the perspectives of patients at the heart of healthcare delivery.
Key areas covered
- The fundamentals of interprofessional teams
- Team dynamics in interprofessional settings
- Communication within interprofessional teams
- Collaborative practices of storytelling
- Including the patient in collaborative storytelling
Learning outcomes
- Understanding that co-creating healing stories for both patient and staff are critical to healthcare.
- How to utilise the storytelling approach, which is contrary to using fixed closed questions.
- How to use mixed-methods for prioritising stories from vulnerable patients.
- Understanding inclusive settings that foster storytelling.
Importance of module to healthcare delivery
Storytelling can become a crucial tool for educators to show the hidden and silent stories of patients, healthcare professionals, patients’ loved ones, and vulnerable people who are receiving care. When collaborating with various disciplines, this interprofessionality and collaboration may lead to multiple healing stories for patient, healthcare staff, and their loved ones.
Importance of module to individual healthcare professionals
The use of collaborative storytelling, narrative, and reflective learning within curricula has been proven to make a powerful impression on students. Narrative learning can also be used as a resource for professional development. Using patient stories when educating students holds significant and exciting potential to lead to better patient care and, ultimately, improved healthcare systems. Furthermore, some consequences of storytelling on the experience of healthcare professionals include gaining increased confidence and focus in completing their studies, increased commitment to seek out future employment, clarity about who they are as an individual, and an improved understanding about what they wish to achieve in their lives.
