Narrative medicine: Re-engaging and re-energizing ourselves through story

Abstract

Physicians and other allied health professionals have many distractions from their work and from original motivations to become health caring professionals. Activities that detract from making meaningful connection with patients result in high levels of work dissatisfaction and burnout even at early stages of career or training. Narrative Medicine provides an antidote to these influences. It is an experiential discipline that draws on the Arts and Humanities, connects health professionals to their original motivation to care, cultivates the ability to engage patients and stimulates professional growth. When practiced with interdisciplinary teams, commonalities and mutual purpose are highlighted, promoting group cohesion and appreciation. The practice of this discipline and development of narrative competence relates closely to the advancement along numerous milestones, particularly Patient Care, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, and Professionalism. This article describes an experiential and didactic workshop presented at the 2019 Forum for Behavioral Science in Family Medicine which outlined a Narrative Medicine curriculum as taught at a community hospital Family Medicine residency. The curriculum is aimed at promoting residents’ professional development, personal wellbeing, and capacity to engage patients.

Profesionalismo y auto cuidado de los residentes, ¿cómo debemos enfocar su formación?

“…La reflexión sobre las historias reales o ficticias, de enfermedad o de otros aspectos relacionados con la experiencia del ser humano, ofrece un antídoto a la insatisfacción y conecta al residente con su motivación original para cuidar a otro 52 . La medicina narrativa, en particular el método implementado por la Rita Charon, lectura atenta (close reading) y la escritura reflexiva (reflective writing) ofrecen un espacio para reflexionar sobre las experiencias más difíciles y traumáticas de la relación con el otro y la fatiga que esto puede generar 53,54 . Introducir espacios de reflexión impacta sobre el bienestar del médico en formación y su relación con el paciente [55][56][57] .…”

Creating healing spaces for residents using Narrative Medicine

“…[4] In addition, it connects health professionals to their original motivation to care, cultivates the ability to engage patients and stimulates professional growth. [5] When residents gather monthly and participate in a purposeful, deliberate curricular program that provides a safe space to explore the interface of personal and professional challenges that arise in medical life they learn that they are connected, they are not alone, that vulnerability is ok, and it is ok to share those experiences with their colleagues and facilitators. They come to a place where, by listening to their own internal story, they can make new discoveries about their work and themselves.…”

Against medical advice: A structured approach to narrative medicine as a balm to the madness

“…6 But studies also suggest that meaningful connections with patients improve work satisfaction and reduce burnout. 7 The art of narrative medicine-the practice of reflective writing in considering the relationships between clinicians and their patients, themselves, and their communities-is a way to work toward that goal. Through creating opportunities for improved experiences at the bedside, actively listening to patients while making observations, and being intentional to sit and write about those experiences-we can find more significance in our experiences and learn to have a greater appreciation for our patients' and our own struggles and successes as we navigate caring well for those who entrust their care to us.…”

“…It is also about processing our own emotions at a time when burnout rates are increasing and exceed 50% in studies of physicians, representing a public health crisis with roots in many causes 6 . But studies also suggest that meaningful connections with patients improve work satisfaction and reduce burnout 7 . The art of narrative medicine—the practice of reflective writing in considering the relationships between clinicians and their patients, themselves, and their communities—is a way to work toward that goal.…”