The arts and humanities in health and medicine

Abstract

There is an increasing interest in the arts and humanities in relation to health and medicine. While this is not a new issue, the interest derives from a feeling that scientific eyes may not be the only way to look at health and illness. So why might we be interested? First, the use of the arts and humanities allows us to consider people as whole individuals, whole communities, and in particular, issues around quality of life. The range is considerable. It includes literature, philosophy, music, the visual arts, theatre, arts in the community, and many other subjects. The philosophical interest has of course been very long standing and includes ethical issues, and the dilemmas faced by doctors. However, it is broader than this and an interest in philosophy or the humanities allows us to analyse problems, to consider arguments, and to be clear about how we feel, how we know, and how we might act. The humanities allow us to understand how others might feel and help us to see problems from their perspective. From an historical background, indeed until the last 50 years or so, it would be expected that most people coming into medicine might have an arts degree with some background in philosophy, logic and rhetoric. As this is no longer so there has been an increasing discussion on how the arts and humanities might assist in improving patient care. The major themes in relation to the arts and health are concerned with their possible value in professional education, in therapy, and in community