Learning narrative-based medicine skills: Narrative-based medicine 3

Area of Science:

• Medical Humanities
• General Practice
• Clinical Communication

Background:

• Modern medicine often emphasizes science, potentially overshadowing its artistic aspects.
• Narrative-based medicine (NBM) offers a framework to reintegrate the art of healing into clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for narrative-based medicine (NBM) as a vital approach in medical consultations.
• To highlight the substantial benefits of wider NBM adoption by general practitioners (GPs) for patients and clinicians.

Main Methods:

• Drawing on insights from NBM proponents Rita Charon and John Launer.
• Incorporating the author's perspective on the utility of the arts in medical training.
• Presenting practical strategies for GPs to implement and enhance NBM skills.

Main Results:

• NBM provides a means to practice the art of medicine.
• Arts-based methods are effective for developing awareness, interpretive abilities, and reflective skills.
• The arts stimulate imagination and creativity, essential components of NBM.

Conclusions:

• Wider adoption of NBM by GPs can significantly improve the quality of patient-doctor interactions.
• Developing reflective and interpretive skills through NBM is crucial for holistic patient care.
• Narrative-based medicine is essential for balancing the scientific and artistic dimensions of medical practice.