[Narrative medicine as a new, interdisciplinary field]

Area of Science:

• Medical Humanities
• Clinical Practice
• Patient-Centered Care

Background:

• Narrative medicine is an emerging influential field globally and in Denmark.
• Biomedicine can sometimes lead to a reductionist view of patients.
• There is a need to perceive and treat patients as complex individuals in clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present narrative medicine as a vital component of medical humanities.
• To advocate for a holistic understanding of patients in clinical practice.
• To explore the impact of narrative medicine on medical education.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing close reading of literary narratives focused on illness experiences.
• Integrating literary analysis into the medical curriculum for students.
• Applying principles of narrative medicine in clinical training.

Main Results:

• Medical students are expected to develop greater empathy.
• Enhanced attunement to self-care among medical professionals.
• Increased tolerance for ambiguity in clinical decision-making.

Conclusions:

• Narrative medicine offers a valuable framework for humanizing medical practice.
• The close reading of illness narratives can transform medical student perspectives.
• Adopting narrative medicine principles can lead to more compassionate and effective patient care.