Which teaching method has been shown to improve communication and teamwork?

• A. Case Studies
• B. Role-playing
• C. Simulation
• D. Online modules

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that immersive, team-based practice with structured feedback best builds communication and teamwork. Simulation puts an interprofessional perioperative team into realistic scenarios with clear roles, time pressure, and evolving events, then follows with focused debriefing. This combination allows learners to rehearse how to speak clearly and assertively, use check-backs and standardized handoffs, anticipate needs, and coordinate actions under stress. Because nothing is patient-based in the real world, mistakes become teachable moments, reinforcing what to say, when to say it, and how to read the team’s cues. This experiential practice translates into better real-life communication, improved coordination, and safer patient care. Case studies or online modules teach knowledge or decision-making, and role-playing can help, but they don’t consistently reproduce the full realism, pressure, and reflective feedback that simulation provides to strengthen teamwork skills.