Narrative medicine

Narrative Medicine is an interdisciplinary field that brings powerful narrative skills of radical listening and creativity from the humanities and the arts to address the needs of all who seek and deliver healthcare. It enables patients and caregivers to voice their experience, to be heard, to be recognized, and to be valued, improving the delivery of healthcare.

Definition

Narrative Medicine is defined as a medical approach that utilizes people's narratives in clinical practice, research, and education as a way to promote healing. It aims to address the relational and psychological dimensions that occur in tandem with physical illness, with an emphasis on the importance of understanding the individual's story in the context of their illness experience.

History

The term "Narrative Medicine" was first coined by Dr. Rita Charon, a general internist and literary scholar, in 2000 at Columbia University. It emerged as a field of study in response to a perceived need for a more holistic approach to medicine that could incorporate the patient's story into their care.

Practice

In practice, Narrative Medicine is an interdisciplinary model that seeks to improve the effectiveness of care by developing these skills among general practitioners, nurses, social workers, mental health practitioners, and other healthcare professionals. The practice of Narrative Medicine involves the collection, interpretation, and integration of narratives in clinical care.

Benefits

Narrative Medicine has been shown to have several benefits in the healthcare field. It can improve the therapeutic relationship between healthcare providers and patients, increase healthcare providers' understanding of patients' experiences, and improve patients' satisfaction with care.

See also

• Patient-centered care
• Holistic health
• Medical humanities

External links

• The Program in Narrative Medicine at Columbia University

Narrative Medicine

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