Defining the medical humanities: three conceptions and three narratives.

Area of Science:

• Medical Humanities
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• The definition of medical humanities remains multifaceted.
• Existing definitions may not fully capture the field's scope and importance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clarify the definition of medical humanities.
• To explore complementary conceptions of the field.
• To emphasize the practical importance of a clear definition for health professions.

Main Methods:

• Examining three conceptions of medical humanities: disciplines, moral development, and supportive friend.
• Linking these conceptions to historical narratives: liberal arts college, Petrarch and studia humanitatis, and Sir William Osler.
• Analyzing the complementary nature of these conceptions.

Main Results:

• Medical humanities can be understood as a list of disciplines.
• It can also be viewed as a program for moral development.
• A third conception sees it as a supportive entity.

Conclusions:

• These three conceptions are complementary and fill gaps in each other.
• A clearer definition is crucial for establishing medical humanities in health professions education and practice.