title: Narrative medicine in a hectic schedule.
abstract: The move to patient-centered medical practice is important for providing relevant and sustainable health care. Narrative medicine, for example, suggests that patients should be involved significantly in diagnosis and treatment. In order to understand the meaning of symptoms and interventions, therefore, physicians must enter the life worlds of patients. But physicians face high patient loads and limited time for extended consultations. In current medical practice, then, is narrative medicine possible? We argue that engaging patient perspectives in the medical visit does not necessarily require a lengthy interview. Instead, a new orientation to this process that emphasizes dialogue between practitioners and patients should be considered. In this new model, the purpose of the visit is to communicate successfully and develop a mutual understanding of illness and care.
authors: University of Miami, 5202 University Drive, Merrick Building, Room 121E, Coral Gables, FL, USA. j.murphy@miami.edu.
authors: John W
authors: JW
authors: Murphy
authors: Ohio University, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Grosvenor 311, Athens, OH, USA.
authors: Berkeley A
authors: BA
authors: Franz
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D033262:Narration; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Doctor–patient relationship; Health care; Health care philosophy; Interpretative medicine; Narrative medicine; Patient-centered care