Art in Surgery: A Review of Art-based Medical Humanities Curricula in Surgical Residency

Abstract

Numerous programs integrate arts and humanities methods to advance medical education competencies. Despite the highly visual and technical nature of the field of surgery, the current state of art utilization in surgical training is unclear. The purpose of this review is to gain a comprehensive understanding of how art has been utilized in surgical training, to investigate the purpose of such interventions, and to assess how art interventions may benefit surgeons. A systematic literature review using PRISMA methodology was conducted to identify articles published prior to February 2022 that investigated or described using art in surgical resident training. Qualitative themes were developed upon full review of the literature and categorized based on fundamental aspects of surgical education. The data was summarized by a narrative approach. Six hundred seventy-four unique articles were initially identified, thirteen of which met inclusion criteria. Twelve studies employed drawing or sculpture in surgical residency training; one discussed art observation to foster mindfulness, teambuilding, and empathy. Eight articles utilized art as an evaluation tool, 2 for didactic and archival purposes, one employed exercises in art analysis to improve empathy and physician wellbeing, and 2 described courses in which art making was treated as a foundational skill. No articles discussed use of art for honing diagnostic skills, observation, or patient communication - competencies that have been addressed in other fields. This review highlights the small number of examples in the medical literature about visual arts in surgical training. The existing art-based surgical humanities studies identify opportunities for curricular innovation within surgical training.