MedicalhumanitiesHackney Trainers’ WorkshopJim Boddington, March 2013Thanks to Dr Jane Harrop-Griffiths, Kensington & Chelsea PD

Objectives

• What is meant by ‘medical humanities’?

• Why might we be interested?

• How can we include this in GP training?

• Where can we find material?

• Give it a go!

Definition

An interdisciplinary field of medicine which includes the humanities (literature, philosophy, ethics, history and religion), social science (anthropology, cultural studies, psychology, sociology), and the arts (literature, theatre, film, and visual arts) and their application to medical education and practice.

Mostly refers to…

Medicine and the arts

Barts ‘Performing Medicine’ project

‘aims to inspire medics to be vital, rigorous, critically engaged, culturally aware doctors and give them skills to help them sustain a highly demanding work practice’

Why?

Aren’t we all interested in the arts?

FilmsPlaysNovelsExhibitionsOwn creative worketc

In pairs:

• What have the arts got to do with being a GP?

• What value do the arts have in GP training?

• What curriculum areas can be explored using the arts?

Iona Heath: The mystery of general practice

‘As GPs, we need the ability to identify imaginatively with a wide range of individuals. To achieve this, we need to avail ourselves of as wide an experience of humanity as possible, and borrow skills from other disciplines. We must make available the benefits of scientific medicine, but mitigate its dangers through an understanding of anthropology, biography, poetry, myth, philosophy and politics..’

Counter-argument

‘GPs who bang on about the arts and medicine are smug gits who are just trying to feel superior to their less cultured colleagues’

Anonymous GP friend of JB

How?

How can we use the arts meaningfully in

•GP training?• In our CPD?

Where?

Where can we find appropriate material?

Give it a go!

• Mixed groups of trainers/trainees

• Discuss the material provided

• How does it relate to training or working as a GP?

Thoughts please