A Look Back and a Path Forward: Poetry's Healing Power during the Pandemic

Area of Science:

• Medical Humanities
• Public Health
• Psychology

Background:

• Loneliness is a growing public health concern with severe health implications.
• The impact of loneliness affects millions of individuals, necessitating innovative interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight poetry's potential in mitigating loneliness.
• To explore poetry's role in medicine for patients and healthcare professionals.

Main Methods:

• A literature review of existing studies on poetry in medicine was conducted.
• The discussion synthesizes findings on poetry's therapeutic applications.

Main Results:

• Poetry demonstrates a capacity to alleviate feelings of loneliness.
• Poetry offers benefits for patients, physicians, and healthcare providers.
• The advantages of poetry can be realized even in isolation.

Conclusions:

• Poetry presents a viable and accessible tool for addressing loneliness in public health.
• Integrating poetry into medical practice can enhance patient and provider well-being.
• The current context, including the COVID-19 pandemic, underscores the timeliness and pertinence of using poetry.