The Art of Observation: A Qualitative Analysis of Medical Students' Experiences

Date

2019-01-22

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Abstract

CONTEXT: Although the inclusion of arts in medical school curricula has garnered much attention, little is known about the effect of arts-based interventions on the behaviors, attitudes, and technical skills of students. The Art of Observation is an optional elective at UT Southwestern Medical Center in collaboration with educators from the Dallas Museum of Art. We utilized a qualitative approach to describe in-depth how engaging with art influences the development of medical students' observation skills and empathy. METHODS: We analyzed evaluations from 65 medical students who completed the course between 2015-2017. Evaluations contained open-ended questions that asked students to reflect upon their experiences and describe their perceptions, thoughts, and feelings after guided museum visits. Two investigators independently read all evaluations line-by-line and used open coding to generate a codebook, which was refined by consensus and discussed with a third investigator experienced in qualitative methodology. We then employed axial coding to identify sub-themes and discover relationships between the major themes. RESULTS: We report three main findings and several subthemes from the data: (1) Enhanced observation skills: by engaging with art and completing relevant activities, students developed the ability to synthesize a compelling narrative in addition to learning technical skills; (2) Improved physician socialization: students reported enhanced self-awareness, increased tolerance of ambiguity, and development of a humanistic view of medicine, key components of physician socialization; and (3) Reduction in burnout symptoms: students reported an enhanced sense of well-being after each session, which mitigates the process of burnout. CONCLUSIONS: Fine arts can be used to teach technical skills, stimulate personal reflection, and prevent burnout. A meaningful engagement with the arts can play an important role in developing physicians who are observant, empathetic, and more well-rounded.

General Notes

The 57th Annual Medical Student Research Forum at UT Southwestern Medical Center (Tuesday, January 22, 2019, 3-6 p.m., D1.600)

Table of Contents

Subjects

Quality Improvement, Global Health, & Medical Education, Art, Attitude, Curriculum, Education, Medical, Students, Medical

Citation

He, B., Prasad, S., Higashi, R., & Goff, H. (2019, January 22). The art of observation: a qualitative analysis of medical students' experiences. Poster session presented at the 57th Annual Medical Student Research Forum, Dallas, TX. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/2152.5/6331

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