ABSTRACT
Barriers to a teaching strategy are an important factor in the learning environment, and the wise teacher will take note of them and monitor how the group responds to suggested activities. Therefore the challenge for anyone using role play as a teaching strategy in healthcare education is to maximise learning and promote the acquiring of skills and professional identity, while at the same time minimising the negative effect that this teaching strategy might have on the student. Within healthcare there are also numerous roles, such as doctor, nurse, therapist, patient, client, administrator, secretary, and so on. Role play as a teaching strategy has much to offer healthcare education. If both the advantages and drawbacks of role play are taken into consideration, this can be an enjoyable, safe and powerful strategy for enhancing learning, especially in healthcare education, where the emphasis is on human interactions and the acquiring of professional roles.
