Creativity: A viable and valuable competency in medicine? A qualitative exploratory study

Abstract

Purpose To explore and describe medical students, postgraduate medical trainees, and medical specialists’ perceptions of creativity, the importance they attach to creativity in contemporary healthcare, and, by extension, how they feel creativity can be taught in medical education. Methods The authors conducted seven semi-structured focus groups with medical students (n = 10), postgraduate medical trainees (n = 11) and medical specialists (n = 13). Results Participants had a trifurcated perception of creativity, which they described as a form of art that involves thinking and action processes. Facing complex patients in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape, doctors needed such a multifaceted perspective to be able to adapt and react to new and often complex situations that require creativity. Furthermore, participants identified conditions that were perceived to stimulate and inhibit creativity in healthcare and suggested several techniques to learn creativity. Conclusion Participants perceived creativity as a form of art that involves thinking and action processes. Creativity is important to tackle the challenges of current and future workplaces, because it stimulates the search for original solutions which are needed in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape. Participants proposed different methods and techniques to promote creativity learning. However, we need further research to design and implement creativity in medical curricula.