The art of healing through narrative medicine in clinical practice: A reflection

Document Type

Article

Department

Psychiatry; Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Emergency Medicine

Abstract

The art of medicine has roots that lie deep in developing the biopsychosocial connection. Understanding a human body (both its physiology and pathology) along with components of emotional and spiritual cores can lead to provision of excellent medical care and better outcomes. The harmonization of psychosocial consequences of a biological disease is helpful not just for health care professionals but also for patients. Where it keeps the empathy and compassion alive and results in greater patient satisfaction, it also helps boost the physician's morale.Our objective is to reflect on the impact of narrative medicine on physician-patient dynamics for health care professionals in a clinical setting. This article was written after synthesizing the findings of evidence-based literature, retrieved from different sources, along with our own reflections on our encounters with patients.One could infer from the evidence-based research that the practice of narrative medicine improves one's concern and understanding toward the patient. This requires more time from the clinician, but medical care without compassion and humaneness causes high rates of dissatisfaction among both patients and health care practitioners, along with the risk of recurrent ailments. Our own patient encounters provide a testimony to this inference. The biopsychosocial model carries the same holistic approach toward patients. The mainstay of treatment in any domain of medicine should contain thoughtfulness for the sufferer rather than sole consideration of the suffering.

Comments

Pagination are not provided by the author/publisher

Publication (Name of Journal)

The Permanente Journal

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