The Use of Visual Arts in Medical Education: Action Research

Abstract

This study is an interdisciplinary action research that empirically explores the educational value of integrating art appreciation into medical education in medical humanities classes. The designed study involved six 3rd-year medical school students and implemented a specialized art appreciation class tailored for medical education. During this process, the study combined the SPICES model of educational strategies with “visual thinking strategies” and incorporated neuroscientific research on art responses to refine teaching methods. The class progressed through stages of “intense observation,” “open-ended questioning and discussion,” and “narrative storytelling.” Through in-depth interviews with participants, the study qualitatively evaluated teaching methods, content, and outcomes and confirmed the positive impact of the class on students' observation skills, communication skills, and interpretation skills. Based on these results, this research emphasizes on the potential collaboration between medical education and visual arts, presenting new possibilities for utilizing visual arts in clinical medicine.