Engaged Medical Humanities-A Framework for Knowledge Production in Research Collaborations

Area of Science:

• Medical Humanities
• Biocultural Studies
• Interdisciplinary Health Research

Background:

• Growing call to understand biocultural entanglements and dissolve rigid distinctions between culture and health.
• Need to break down disciplinary boundaries in health research.
• Existing medical humanities approaches often maintain a separation between basic and applied research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and conceptualize an 'engaged medical humanities' approach.
• To demonstrate how this approach integrates theoretical contributions with empirical engagement.
• To offer a framework for conducting engaged medical humanities research.

Main Methods:

• Drawing on ten years of practice at the Copenhagen Centre for Health Research in the Humanities (CoRe).
• Analyzing two collaborative research projects involving external stakeholders.
• Examining challenges in navigating collaborations and knowledge production.

Main Results:

• Developed a framework for engaged medical humanities research.
• Identified practical challenges in interdisciplinary and stakeholder collaborations.
• Showcased diverse knowledge production, including theoretical, conceptual, and practical interventions.

Conclusions:

• Engaged medical humanities offers a valuable model for integrating academic insights with societal needs.
• Empirical sensitivity and fluid accountabilities are crucial for successful collaborations.
• The framework provides a foundation for future engaged medical humanities projects, particularly in a Scandinavian context.