Using art to improve visual diagnosis: a review

Abstract

Summary Background Elective visual arts‐based courses for trainees in the health professions may, amongst other things, help improve visual diagnostic skills. An emphasis on the careful observation of visual art and medical images and the co‐teaching of such courses by both medical faculty members and local art educators seem to be particularly important elements for the successful implementation of such courses. Literature review At least 12 studies to date suggest that guided observation of visual art (e.g. paintings and photography) can enhance the quality and/or quantity of visual observations. More research is needed regarding optimal course structure and assessment, but existing evidence supports the development of visual arts‐based coursework for health care trainees using strategies such as ‘visual thinking skills’ and engagement and processing in groups. Take‐home message The arts or ‘medical humanities’ are increasingly used in the education of health professionals, and growing evidence exists that visual arts‐based coursework, in particular, can enhance the observation skills of participants. Notably, the expertise and experience of trainees in specific disciplines are likely to influence specific learning goals and course structure in each context; however, unique arts‐based teaching strategies (e.g. ‘visual thinking skills’) can be used across all settings.There is no more difficult art to acquire than the art of observation … William Osler, 19031

From moulage to metrics: Bibliometric survey of visual arts in dermatopathology and dermatology

“…4,7 Many authors recommended incorporating visual art programs into medical or professional curricula to improve pattern recognition and other visual skills. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]48 There are several limitations to our study. First, the articles retrieved were from a limited number of databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct.…”

“…The difference in articles over time may relate to technological changes in society, with progression from a prephotographic/predigital era to the concerns of medicine today, such as physician burnout 4 or lack of student engagement. [2][3][4][5][6]48 Kumar and Jackson emphasized the importance of artwork in the wellness program after noticing the increased use of artwork for personal wellness and stress reduction among the participants. 4,7 Many authors recommended incorporating visual art programs into medical or professional curricula to improve pattern recognition and other visual skills.…”

Integration of visual thinking strategies to undergraduate health assessment course: A mixed-method feasibility study

“…While most studies have reported VTS activities offered as a standalone session or a separate course ( Rana et al, 2020 ), we used the following strategies to offer VTS activities within the existing curriculum. First, VTS was introduced in a few selected topics by allocating varying lengths of time for each topic (20–40 min).…”

“…Using VTS teaches students how to observe, feel, and discuss various visual artworks (e.g., paintings, photographs, sculptures) outside the scope of photos or figures in traditional textbooks ( Visual Thinking Strategies, 2021 ). Initially introduced as a teaching tool for primary education ( Nanavaty, 2018 ), VTS has been widely implemented in educating health care professionals, including nursing, medicine, pharmacy, and interprofessional education ( Klugman et al, 2011 ; Monahan et al, 2019 ; Moorman, 2015 ; Moorman et al, 2017 ; Poirier et al, 2020 ; Rana et al, 2020 ). Studies have reported that implementing VTS in health sciences education can help students strengthen their capacity for (1) observing and analyzing the patient during clinical rotation, (2) communicating with teams, (3) empathy, and (4) accepting diversity and ambiguity ( Chisolm et al, 2020 ).…”

“…VTS has been applied to health assessment lectures and lab practice for medical students and advanced practice nurses in art gallery settings ( Rana et al, 2020 ). Although VTS' value in education for medical students and healthcare professionals is recognized, particularly in the United States and Australia, there is limited knowledge on the acceptability of VTS in nursing education globally, especially in East Asian countries.…”