The experience of COVID-19 ward’s patients: a narrative medicine approach

Abstract

Narrative Medicine approach has increased in popularity in the medical context as an effective model to approach their patients’ experiences of illness with more understanding and compassion, offering fresh opportunities for empathic, respectful, and nourishing medical care. The goal of our work has been to study the overall experience of COVID-19 patients, putting the personal dimension at the center of the dialogue and the ability to acknowledge, absorb, interpret, and act on the stories and plights of others. Firstly, we considered their reaction to the consequences of the Lockdown, then we asked if they were fearful of potentially being infected, and finally, we asked about their illness and arrival at the hospital, having little to no information about their future. The interdisciplinary intersection between neuropsychology, micro-sociology of health, and physical and rehabilitative medicine has made it possible for us to report the following experience, providing new insights on the pre-existent doctorpatient relationship and the importance of hospitalization stories, for humane and effective medical practice.