Literature and medicine: evaluating a special study module using the nominal group technique

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Humanities in Medicine
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Integrating humanities into medical curricula is crucial for holistic patient care.
• Traditional medical education often overlooks the subjective experiences of illness and the nuances of doctor-patient relationships.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a specialized literature and medicine study module designed to enhance clinical relevance.
• To assess the impact of literary study on medical students' understanding of patient experiences and clinical skills.

Main Methods:

• A 4-week interdisciplinary course explored themes like empathy, death, disability, and ethics through diverse literary texts.
• A nominal group technique was employed for student evaluation, involving item generation, clarification, ranking, and thematic analysis based on a clinical relevance taxonomy.

Main Results:

• Students prioritized insights into patient experiences, including understanding, knowledge, and empathy.
• Perceived improvements in clinically relevant skills were reported, encompassing communication, analysis, writing, and ethical reasoning.
• Personal growth, development, and enjoyment were also noted as secondary outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The literature and medicine module successfully fostered clinical relevance by enhancing students' knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
• Studying literature provides a valuable avenue for developing crucial competencies in medical professionals.
• The module demonstrated the potential of integrating humanities to improve medical training and patient-centered care.