Title |
The Use of Visual Arts as a Window to Diagnosing Medical Pathologies
|
---|---|
Published in |
The AMA Journal of Ethic, August 2016
|
DOI | 10.1001/journalofethics.2016.18.8.imhl1-1608 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Katrina A Bramstedt |
Abstract |
Observation is a key step preceding diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment. Careful patient observation is a skill that is learned but rarely explicitly taught. Furthermore, proper clinical observation requires more than a glance; it requires attention to detail. In medical school, the art of learning to look can be taught using the medical humanities and especially visual arts such as paintings and film. Research shows that such training improves not only observation skills but also teamwork, listening skills, and reflective and analytical thinking. Overall, the use of visual arts in medical school curricula can build visual literacy: the capacity to identify and analyze facial features, emotions, and general bodily presentations, including contextual features such as clothing, hair, and body art. With the ability to formulate and convey a detailed "picture" of the patient, clinicians can integrate aesthetic and clinical knowledge, helping facilitate the diagnosing of medical pathologies. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 53 | 24% |
United Kingdom | 27 | 12% |
Canada | 13 | 6% |
Spain | 12 | 5% |
Ireland | 5 | 2% |
Australia | 5 | 2% |
Mexico | 4 | 2% |
Curaçao | 3 | 1% |
South Africa | 3 | 1% |
Other | 28 | 12% |
Unknown | 72 | 32% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 140 | 62% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 41 | 18% |
Scientists | 34 | 15% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 10 | 4% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 1 | 2% |
Unknown | 60 | 98% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Master | 7 | 11% |
Student > Bachelor | 7 | 11% |
Lecturer | 6 | 10% |
Other | 5 | 8% |
Researcher | 5 | 8% |
Other | 16 | 26% |
Unknown | 15 | 25% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 17 | 28% |
Social Sciences | 6 | 10% |
Arts and Humanities | 5 | 8% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 5 | 8% |
Psychology | 4 | 7% |
Other | 6 | 10% |
Unknown | 18 | 30% |