Interactive theater: an innovative conflict resolution teaching methodology.

The incidence of verbally abusive families has dramatically increased in pediatric hospitals. A workshop incorporating interactive theater was designed to support staff in developing assertive communication skills to manage verbal abuse. Professional actors performed skits based on clinical scenarios. Participants entered the scenarios at any point to change the communication style and affect a positive outcome. Interactive theater enhances emotive learning that is essential to affect behavioral change. This is a useful strategy for educators to include in any training that is designed to change behavior.