Using the Chinese whisper game to teach communication skills in undergraduate medical students: A simple experiential learning model

Abstract

Communication skills are a core component of the Competency-Based Medical Education curriculum for undergraduate medical students in India, and innovative, low-cost experiential methods are especially needed in resource-limited settings. This study describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of the Chinese Whisper Game as an experiential learning strategy to enhance communication skills among MBBS students. The activity was conducted during a one-hour communication skills session and involved sequential message passing, followed by structured debriefing using the reflective framework “What–So What–Now What.” Student feedback was collected after the session using a structured Google Form with Likert-scale items and open-ended questions. Seventy-two students participated in the activity, and forty completed the feedback form. Most students reported improved awareness of active listening, better understanding of communication breakdowns, and strong relevance of the exercise to clinical practice. Overall, the Chinese Whisper Game proved effective educationally.