Using Film to Teach Communication Skills, Patient Care, and Other Medical Competencies—April 2023 FRAHME Newsletter

Bringing film into medical education can offer a wealth of opportunities for students to learn essential skills and promote critical thinking. For example: 

• Worlds Apart: A series of four films, each 15 minutes in length, that tells the story of four culturally diverse patients and their families faced with making critical medical decisions as they navigate the health care system. This Facilitator’s Guide from the Stanford University Center for Biomedical Ethics is specifically designed for use with health professions learners.

• 16 and Recovering: A four-part MTV documentary series that follows the lives of students at a recovery high school who are navigating substance use and mental health disorders. The discussion guide offers background about addiction as well suggested questions for each episode.

• Keeper of the House: A 15-minute documentary video featuring environmental service workers at Duke Hospital who reflect on their contributions to healing. Learners can read this related article about a COVID patient and the support he received from a hospital housekeeper, and have a follow up discussion about hierarchy and the role of different staff in their institutions.

• See the FRAHME Getting Started Guide for additional film recommendations and resources.

  • The FRAHME Getting Started Guide is designed for educators who are new to incorporating arts and humanities into their programs, courses, or curricula. It provides specific ideas and examples for integrating the arts and humanities into competency-based medical education. Activities were selected due to their ability to be conducted at low cost with any group of learners, regardless of developmental stage or specialty.