The Value of Medical Humanities in Education: A Panel Discussion Amongst Medical Students

Abstract

Medical Humanities is an interdisciplinary field that has slowly been integrated into medical education. Despite developments in medical technologies, patients still experience feelings of grief, anger, and anxiety about their health and rely on their doctor for moral and emotional support. Thus, patients are inevitably finding doctors' empathy and understanding equally as important as their medical knowledge and clinical experience. The development and incorporation of medical humanities courses are vital for enhancing the delivery of treatment to the patient and optimizing their physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being. Nonetheless, some healthcare professionals and educators still argue that the medical field has advanced far beyond the theoretical approaches of medical humanities, especially since limited data is available to support their effectiveness. Another objection that is raised against the humanities is that the medical curriculum is already extremely rigorous, which makes it challenging to incorporate any new material into the standard coursework. Seven medical students from WCM-Q aim to uncover the potential values and limitations of medical humanities in current education and its efficacy in clinical settings. The discussion sheds light on the core skills that can be promoted by humanities including observation, listening, sensitivity, sensibility, and communication. Furthermore, the panelists engaged in a fruitful conversation exploring the narrative and scientific thinking of doctors and examining the cost-benefit analysis of modern medical practices with traditional therapeutic approaches.