An Educational Theater- Based Activity to Challenge Cultural Stereotypes about Veterans’ and their Lived Experiences

The media stereotypes military veterans as damaged beings or indestructible heroes, often forming implicit and explicit biases that impact medical health providers’ capability to connect emotionally with veterans. This educational tool uses interactive theater challenge veteran stigma, enhance empathy, increase learners’ ability talk about their service. 90-minute session includes an performance where learners recite verbatim interview excerpts. article contains all the materials necessary replicate this activity in appendices. is prefaced introduction of script, how it was developed directions for engaging session. facilitated by faculty knowledgeable culture care who led post-performance discussion. Electronic survey data provides quantitative qualitative assessment attitudes, beliefs, quality Learner satisfaction revealed among questions asked, which including following dimensions: instructional format, content, content. Qualitative results illustrated a newfound awareness diversity experience, personal bias, social stigma on health. Addressing vulnerable population challenging. one-time intervention called confront showed short-term may improve clinical Future research should address long-term patient outcomes.