The Impact of Art in Medicine Training and Its Effectiveness on Professionalism and Interpersonal Skills: A Prospective Study.

Abstract

Introduction: Internal Medicine residents in The United States of America (USA) need to demonstrate competency in the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core areas to meet training requirements. Two of these core competencies are professionalism and interpersonal/communication skills. Medical humanities can positively influence trainee development by cultivating these skills. There is limited literature on the use of art-based programs to enhance communication and professionalism skills among residents aside from the original FRAME workshop. We have designed a six-part series called "Using Art for Professionalism and Communication Skills in Medical Education" (UAPCMedEd) that implements visual arts training strategies to teach residents these core skills as part of their training program in Internal Medicine. The aim of this study is to assess whether such a program can effectively enhance these core competencies.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted in a single academic institution, involving six-monthly, one-hour virtual visual art focused group discussion sessions during the academic year 2022-2023. The program was co-designed and run by a physician leader and an educator at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. After each session, survey data collected from Internal Medicine residents were analyzed using a mixed-methods approach.

Results: Thirty-two Internal Medicine residents volunteered to participate. 100%, 97%, and 95% of respondents were able to consider new points of view, felt that the program gave them time and tools for reflection, and agreed that the workshop provided a pause and respite from medical care, respectively. Furthermore, 81% responded that it helped them communicate more effectively, and 74% stated that it helped them reconnect with their role as medical providers.

Conclusion: Forming well-rounded physicians who can reflect on their biases, empathize, and communicate effectively is the key to dealing with modern medical challenges. The UAPCMedEd workshop positively influenced residents' professionalism and interpersonal communication skills.