Perceptions of an Inter-Residency Narrative Medicine Curriculum

Background Narrative medicine (NM) is a discipline that equips clinicians with essential skills such as close reading, observation, and reflective practice, enabling them to listen more attentively and gain a deeper understanding of health care. Despite these advantages, many training programs lack skilled facilitators to implement NM locally. To address this gap, a hybrid virtual/in-person inter-residency NM curriculum was developed. Objective This study aims to explore residents' perceptions of the NM curriculum and how they describe its influence on their personal or professional development. Methods We conducted 2 focus group interviews of pediatrics residents who attended at least one NM workshop. The 50-minute workshops occurred monthly from July 2023 to July 2024 as part of the mandatory pediatrics residency conference curriculum, though attendance was secondary to clinical duties. Attendance included 10 to 15 residents and 1 to 2 fellow or faculty facilitators. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. Results Through analysis of 2 focus groups comprising 13 total residents, we identified 3 themes: reconnecting with humanity through reflection, strengthening relationships with colleagues and patients, and appreciating institutional support for NM. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that an inter-residency NM curriculum fostered a sense of community by enabling residents to reflect on their clinical practice and connect with colleagues within and beyond their respective campuses. Residents valued the opportunity to learn from peers and supervisors alike and appreciated program leadership's support of NM.