Role Play: Hospital Death Announcement
Role-Playing Exercise Highlights Pitfalls of Delivering death Notifications
Table of Contents
- Role-Playing Exercise Highlights Pitfalls of Delivering death Notifications
- Delivering Death Notifications: A Look at What Works (and What Doesn’t)
- What was the focus of the role-playing exercise?
- Who participated in the exercise?
- what were the key insights from the contrasting scenarios?
- What were the pitfalls of the poorly handled notification?
- How did the sensitive approach differ?
- What impact did the actors’ performances have?
- What did the exercise reveal about the risk of trivialization?
- What nonverbal communication cues were highlighted as crucial?
- What were the key takeaways from the discussion about communication?
- Summary of Best Practices for Delivering Death Notifications
- Why is this type of training important?
PARIS (AFP) — Insensitive technical jargon, a lack of empathy, and physical distancing: these were some of the pitfalls explored in an educational role-playing exercise focused on delivering death notifications. The session took place Wednesday at Santexpo, a major hospital trade fair held in Paris.
A meeting room at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center was transformed into a makeshift theater for the 90-minute presentation. Two actresses portrayed grieving family members confronting a doctor and a nurse, roles played by a healthcare professional and a retiree from the field. The performance unfolded before an audience of approximately 40 peers.
Following each scenario – one depicting a poorly handled notification,the other a more sensitive approach – attendees participated in a debriefing session.The discussion was led by Nancy Kentish-Barnes, a sociologist and research manager at Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), and Professor Bertrand Guidet, president of the Ethics Committee at the Hospital federation of France (FHF).
Contrasting scenarios Reveal Communication Gaps
In the first scenario, Cyril Hazif-Thomas, a psychiatrist at the Brest CHRU, played a department head who delivered the news of a death quickly and impersonally. He peppered his speech with medical jargon and made abrupt statements such as, “You were still aware of his state, right?”
Adding too the tension, Chantal Cateau, a member of France Assos Health, played a detached nurse (a role she held prior to retirement).Her character seemed unconcerned,citing the family’s ”absence in recent days.” “We have no answer,that’s enough to be badly treated like that!” exclaimed one of the deceased’s daughters,portrayed by actress and hospital clown isabelle Woussen,expressing the family’s outrage.
“Very Realistic” Depiction Sparks Discussion
“We have grown the line,” said Professor Guide. ”It is indeed unluckily very realistic,” responded Eric Oziol, head of service at the Béziers hospital center. Oziol emphasized that the “key point” is “how we perceive death in medical teams and outside.”
Professionals acknowledged that in departments frequently dealing with patient deaths, there is a “little risk of trivialization.” In the initial scenario, the department head remained standing behind his desk, facing the seated family. “The office is the cat!” oziol remarked. Nancy Kentish-Barnes underscored that this piece of furniture introduces a distancing element in “non-verbal communication” that can painfully imprint itself on the memories of the deceased’s relatives.
The second scenario presented a contrasting approach. The department head and nurse welcomed the family members and invited them to sit in a circle. Medical jargon was avoided, and the caregivers focused on the patient’s final moments with a soothing tone. The department head even offered “another exchange time” if the initial proclamation proved too “brutal” for the loved ones.
Emotional Depth Highlights Complexity
The complexity of the exercise was heightened by the talent of the two actresses, particularly Ariane Boumendil, whose portrayal of tears and distress proved deeply moving. Her performance even destabilized her fellow actors from the medical profession.
Dr.Michel Dintimille, practicing in Martinique, noted a “disturbing sentence” uttered by Chantal Cateau: “+We took care of your loved one, because of his kindness with the caregivers+… Ah, and in the opposite case?”.
Cateau admitted that she “looked for something to say” at that moment. “We fill because we are uncomfortable, but we sometimes have to give way to silence so that the data will make its way,” Kentish-Barnes explained.
“At one point, there were too many words of the doctors and the family’s questions could no longer come,” observed Woussen, reflecting on her experience in the role.
“Sometimes, the best thing for a doctor to do after the announcement is to be silent, to listen, to offer support, but not to become overwhelmed by the emotions of the people,” Profession concluded.
Delivering Death Notifications: A Look at What Works (and What Doesn’t)
This article explores the critical, and frequently enough difficult, task of delivering death notifications, drawing insights from a role-playing exercise designed to highlight the best and worst practices in this sensitive situation.
What was the focus of the role-playing exercise?
The exercise, held at the Santexpo hospital trade fair in Paris, focused on delivering death notifications and the common pitfalls encountered in this process.The goal was to educate healthcare professionals on how to communicate this difficult news with empathy and sensitivity.
Who participated in the exercise?
The exercise involved a team of actors and healthcare professionals. Two actresses portrayed grieving family members, while a healthcare professional and a retiree from the field played a doctor and a nurse, respectively. The audience consisted of approximately 40 peers who observed the scenarios and participated in a debriefing session.
what were the key insights from the contrasting scenarios?
The exercise presented two contrasting scenarios. The first showed a poorly handled notification, and the second showed a more sensitive approach. The debriefing sessions, led by nancy Kentish-Barnes, a sociologist, and Professor Bertrand Guidet, highlighted the interaction gaps that can occur.
What were the pitfalls of the poorly handled notification?
The poorly handled notification demonstrated several pitfalls:
Insensitive Technical Jargon: The department head (psychiatrist) used medical jargon that could be confusing and impersonal.
Lack of Empathy: The nurse (played by a retiree) appeared detached and unconcerned with the family’s grief.
Physical Distancing: the department head remained standing behind his desk, creating a physical barrier.
Abrupt Statements: The department head made abrupt statements.
How did the sensitive approach differ?
The second scenario showcased a more empathetic approach:
The department head and nurse welcomed the family and invited them to sit in a circle.
Medical jargon was avoided.
The caregivers focused on the patient’s final moments.
The department head offered “another exchange time” if needed.
What impact did the actors’ performances have?
The actresses’ performances,particularly Ariane Boumendil’s portrayal of grief,heightened the emotional impact of the exercise,even affecting the medical professionals involved.
What did the exercise reveal about the risk of trivialization?
Professionals acknowledged that in departments frequently dealing with patient deaths,there’s a “little risk of trivialization”.
What nonverbal communication cues were highlighted as crucial?
Nancy Kentish-Barnes highlighted that physical objects,such as the department head’s desk,introduce a distancing element in “non-verbal communication” that can painfully imprint itself on the memories of the deceased’s relatives.
What were the key takeaways from the discussion about communication?
The exercise underscored the importance of:
Empathy and Sensitivity: Approaching the family with genuine care and understanding.
Clear and Accessible Language: avoiding medical jargon and using plain language.
Active Listening: Allowing the family to express their feelings and ask questions.
Silence: Recognizing that sometimes,the best thing to do is to be silent and offer support.
Summary of Best Practices for Delivering Death Notifications
Here’s a summary table comparing the “Do’s” and “Don’ts” highlighted in the role-playing exercise:
| Aspect | Poor Approach (Don’ts) | Better approach (Do’s) |
|---|---|---|
| Communication Style | Impersonal,using medical jargon,abrupt | Empathetic,using clear and simple language,soothing tone |
| Physical Setting | Standing behind a desk,creating distance | Welcoming the family,inviting them to sit in a circle |
| Focus | focusing on medical details,the deceased’s condition | Focusing on the patient’s final moments |
| Caregiver’s Demeanor | Appearing detached,unconcerned | Demonstrating genuine care and sensitivity |
| Response to Family | Dominating the conversation,too many words. | Active listening, allowing the family to express feelings, silence. |
Why is this type of training important?
The exercise demonstrates that delivering death notifications effectively requires specialized skills and a deep understanding of human emotion.These skills can be improved through training and role-playing exercises.