Beyond empathy: a qualitative exploration of arts and humanities in pre-professional (baccalaureate) health education

Seeing the Other: How Residents Expand Their Perspective by Learning With the Arts

BACKGROUND

Engaging with the arts can enrich medical education by fostering transformative learning, reflection, and a holistic view of the patient.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the development of professional competence of residents in prolonged arts-based medical education.

METHODS

We followed residents (n=99) of various specialties as they engaged in arts-based learning through creative and reflective assignments such as painting, sculpting, and formal analysis. Participants were interviewed about their learning process and experiences, one-on-one and in small groups, by independent researchers using short, semistructured interviews. We used grounded theory to inform an iterative process for data collection and analysis over the course of 3 years (2016-2018).

RESULTS

Seven themes were constructed, which showed that (1) slowing down education provides room for reflection; (2) absence of judgment and rules sparks experimentation; (3) engaging with emotions fostered reflection and motivation; (4) the artists' methods provided a perspective change; (5) a holistic view on the patient emerged; (6) residents understood the need to take control over their professional development; and (7) there were barriers to overcome in terms of hierarchy and expectations. Our investigation shows that interns and residents undergo a perspective transformation. Key to the development of the physicians in training is the open and affective nature of the arts in education.

CONCLUSIONS

Arts-based learning results in a new perspective for physicians in training in line with patient-centered health care and self-directed learning.

Quantitative Analysis of Visual Representation of Sign Elements in COVID-19 Context

Visual representation as a means of communication uses elements to build a narrative. We propose using computer analysis to perform a quantitative analysis of the elements used in the visual creations that have been produced in reference to the epidemic, using 927 images compiled from The Covid Art Museum's Instagram account. This process has been carried out with techniques based on deep learning to detect objects contained in each study image. The research reveals the elements that are repeated in images to create narratives and the relations of association that are established in the sample. The predominant discourses in the sample do not show concern for the effects of illness. On the contrary, the impact and effects of confinement, through the prominent presence of elements such as human figures, windows, and buildings, are the most expressed experiences in the creations analyzed.

Developing New Academic Programs in the Medical/Health Humanities: A Toolkit to Support Continued Growth

Academic programs in the medical/health humanities have proliferated widely in recent years, and the professional, academic, and cultural drivers of this growth promise sustained new program development. In this article, we present the results of a survey sent to representatives of one hundred twenty-four baccalaureate and ten graduate programs in the medical/health humanities to assess the experiences and needs of existing programs. Survey results confirm the interest in and need for a descriptive toolkit as opposed to a prescriptive manual; indicate what data and materials are most needed to support the successful development of new academic programs in the field; and identify areas for future research. Recognizing a need for program development resources, the Health Humanities Consortium (HHC) has initiated the creation of a comprehensive online toolkit. We discuss survey results and the toolkit in relation to the drivers of new program growth. Finally, we describe resources now available through the HHC's new online program toolkit, including existing programs; sample syllabi; sample curricula templates; program rationale; proposal templates; and graduation data.

A gameful blended-learning experience in nursing: A qualitative focus group study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges around the world, affecting over 1.5 billion students in 191 countries. This situation has forced faculties and health-related degrees in particular to be innovative, flexible, and agile when transitioning to online or blended learning.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore nursing students' experiences and perceptions of the use of game elements in two full-nursing subjects using a blended-learning teaching strategy.

DESIGN

A qualitative study was conducted through sixteen focus group interviews between November 2020 and January 2021.

SETTING

This study took place at the Jaume I University with students enrolled in Adult and Elderly Health Programmes and Chronic Processes in their second and third year, respectively.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred forty-nine second- and third-year undergraduate nursing students took part in the focus group interviews.

METHODS

A blended-learning teaching approach with game elements was developed for two full-undergraduate nursing subjects. Focus groups using a semi-structured interview protocol were conducted after delivering the teaching content. A content analysis was used to analyse the focus group interview data.

RESULTS

The qualitative analysis revealed four major themes: (i) teaching transition in the COVID-19 pandemic scenario, (ii) game elements to retain student attention and learning, (iii) gameful designs for competency-based team training, and (iv) blended learning vs face-to-face learning including gamification.

CONCLUSIONS

This study yields, for the first time, findings about the use of game elements in blended learning. This strategy was shown to be useful for teaching other key clinical or teamwork-related skills such as creativity, innovation, team-based communication, and responsibility, in addition to supporting the use of this innovative teaching strategy to reduce online fatigue and stress and increase student engagement in online classes.