PERCEPTION OF NARRATIVE MEDICINE AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS IN LEBANON

Authors

Hala Ahmadieh, Assistant Professor, Clinical Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, LebanonFollow
Hadi Itani, Medical Student, Faculty of Medicine, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, LebanonFollow
Sanaa Itani, Medical Student, Faculty of Medicine, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, LebanonFollow
Khaled Sidani, Medical Student, Faculty of Medicine, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, LebanonFollow
Mona Kassem, Medical Student, Faculty of Medicine, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, LebanonFollow

English Title

NARRATIVE MEDICINE PERCEPTION

Keywords

Narrative medicine, communication, curriculum, empathy, patient care

Disciplines

Architecture | Business | Life Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

The physician-patient relationship has evolved over the years. A good relationship necessitates mutual commitment from both parties, and narrative medicine can be considered as a tool that can aid in improving this relationship, as it helps to improve listening to patients’ stories and turning the patients’ subjective words into objective information, which help physicians to understand the nature of patients’ illnesses, improve the quality of patient care and leads to a better therapeutic effect. A descriptive cross-sectional study was planned. Data collection was done via convenience sampling. Beirut Arab University medical students were asked to fill a paper-based questionnaire between ­­­­­August 2019 and February 2020. The study collected demographic information about the participants including the age, the gender, current academic year, and the cumulative grade point average, and assessed their knowledge about narrative medicine and its importance to be implemented in the medical school curriculum. Data were collected, entered, and analyzed on SPSS software version 23.1. 361 medical students participated. Around 60% thought that narrative medicine helps to promote reflection and empathy, and 80% thought that narrative medicine is essential for enhancing the quality of patient care and that listening to patients’ stories would enhance physician-patient communication. Females tended to have a better understanding of narrative medicine’s importance. The majority agreed that narrative medicine should be an integral part of the medical school curriculum. Medical students were found to be lacking adequate knowledge about narrative medicine. However, the majority agreed on the need for implementation of humanity courses in the current curriculum.

Recommended Citation

Ahmadieh, Hala; Itani, Hadi; Itani, Sanaa; Sidani, Khaled; and Kassem, Mona (2020) "PERCEPTION OF NARRATIVE MEDICINE AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS IN LEBANON," BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing: Vol. 3: Iss. 1, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54729/2789-8288.1046