Article
Using visual arts to improve diagnostic skills - a brief review of the literature
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Published: | November 18, 2010 |
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Outline
Poster
Introduction and Aims of the Study: Several publications suggest that "Arts based observational skills training" (i.e. the focussed observation and detailed discussion of works of art under the guidance of a trained facilitator) may increase diagnostic skills of doctors and medical students. In fact, clinical observation is mainly taught through preceptor modelling during the clinical years. No standard methods are available for communicating those skills. Structured observation of art works and understanding of fine arts concepts seems to be conducive to greater diagnostic skills, since clinical diagnosis is - also - dependent on observation, description and interpretation of visual information. In addition to that, through arts, the reductionist, objective approach of the biomedical model - of seeing man as a mere machine - is completed by a richer perception of existence, where subjective aspects are given more weight. Thus, a better knowledge of works by classic as well as contemporary artists leads to better awareness of the complex nature of human beings.
Methods: We carried out a PubMed and Ovid review to retrieve available data from the literature on the subject.
Results: Because of the inhomogeneous data available, more research is needed to support unequivocally the evidence of usefulness of fine arts observation in clinical. Nevertheless, such evidence seems likely to be attainable when studies on larger scales will be carried out. There is also the need to demonstrate the existence of long-term benefits in terms of both diagnostic skills and improved general clinical efficacy.