Teaching Medicine Through the Study of Literature: Implementing a Fourth-Year Distance Learning Elective

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Distance Learning
• Humanities in Medicine

Background:

• The residency application process increasingly demands medical students' time, potentially compromising their education.
• The fourth year of medical school is vital for preparing students for residency transitions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a distance learning elective in literature and medicine for fourth-year medical students.
• To assess the elective's impact on students' critical thinking, communication, and flexibility.

Main Methods:

• A four-week distance learning elective was offered five times between 2012 and 2014.
• Students and faculty selected topics and readings for written reflections and video-conference discussions.
• A postcourse survey assessed student perceptions of the elective's value.

Main Results:

• Students valued the course for fostering perspective-taking and self-reflection on biases.
• The elective improved participants' ability to think like a physician and discuss complex topics.
• Participants appreciated the flexibility and opportunity to engage with nonmedical literature.

Conclusions:

• Initial feedback suggests the distance learning humanities elective is beneficial for medical students.
• The course's positive reception supports its potential replication at other institutions.
• Further research will explore the elective's long-term impact on students entering residency.