Using visual art and collaborative reflection to explore medical attitudes toward vulnerable persons.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Art in Medicine
• Healthcare Professional Development

Background:

• Stigma creates barriers for vulnerable persons seeking healthcare.
• Novel educational strategies are required to address these barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate an interdisciplinary workshop using visual art to foster discussion on patient care.
• To assess the impact of art-based education on healthcare students' and practitioners' perspectives.

Main Methods:

• An interdisciplinary workshop centered on a provocative oil portrait.
• Mixed methods analysis of participant reflections and qualitative themes.

Main Results:

• Increased participant endorsement of visual art's relevance to patient care and medical education.
• Qualitative themes included power dynamics, body image, and clinical practice lessons.
• Post-workshop, participants more strongly supported art interpretation as a required curriculum component.

Conclusions:

• Visual art can facilitate difficult conversations about patient care in healthcare education.
• Art serves as a proxy for patients, enabling exploration of complex emotional responses.
• This approach can improve observational skills, empathy, and narrative abilities in future clinicians.