title: Narrative medicine as a means of training medical students toward residency competencies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to explore the perceived influence of narrative medicine training on clinical skill development of fourth-year medical students, focusing on competencies mandated by ACGME and the RCPSC in areas of communication, collaboration, and professionalism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using grounded-theory, three methods of data collection were used to query twelve medical students participating in a one-month narrative medicine elective regarding the process of training and the influence on clinical skills. Iterative thematic analysis and data triangulation occurred.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rate was 91% (survey), 50% (focus group) and 25% (follow-up). Five major findings emerged. Students perceive that they: develop and improve specific communication skills; enhance their capacity to collaborate, empathize, and be patient-centered; develop personally and professionally through reflection. They report that the pedagogical approach used in narrative training is critical to its dividends but misunderstood and perceived as counter-culture. CONCLUSION/PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Participating medical students reported that they perceived narrative medicine to be an important, effective, but counter-culture means of enhancing communication, collaboration, and professional development. The authors contend that these skills are integral to medical practice, consistent with core competencies mandated by the ACGME/RCPSC, and difficult to teach. Future research must explore sequelae of training on actual clinical performance.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Western University, London, Canada. shannon.arntfield@gmail.com
authors: Shannon L
authors: SL
authors: Arntfield
authors: Kristen
authors: K
authors: Slesar
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Dickson
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: Charon
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D003142:Communication; D003162:Competency-Based Education; D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection; D017144:Focus Groups; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D033262:Narration; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011582:Psychological Theory; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires