How Narratives In Medicine Improve Care

When we see a doctor, we share a story, starting with our description of the symptoms to our doctor (“this is the problem I’ve been having”), followed by the doctor’s delivery of a diagnosis (“this is what you have”), and prescription of therapy (“this is what you need to do”). However, patient care doesn’t depend on this linear narrative alone - doctors seek to explore a deeper understanding of their patients’ suffering, informed by their own relationships and experiences. But do healthcare providers today have the time or the skills to explore the nuances and contexts of patients’ stories? Amid what seems like a highly transactional environment of healthcare, we dive into how narrative-based medicine can help healthcare professionals better understand their patients’ stories and experiences.

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