I was a little surprised to find this as “news” –
Patients and their families want physicians who are gifted in diagnosis and treatment and who are caring individuals with the interpersonal skills needed to communicate complex information in stressful circumstances. A new study in the January 2009 issue of Academic Medicine shows training physicians to be humanistic is feasible and produces measurably better communicators.
It’s kind of sad that this is promoted as newsworthy. But I’m glad it’s being publicised all the same.
“Traditionally medical school curricula have focused on the pathophysiology of disease while neglecting the very real impact of disease on the patient’s social and psychological experience, that is, their illness experience. It is in this intersection that humanism plays a profound role,” said Dr. Frankel, who is a medical sociologist.
This is the heart of the problem I think. It’s this very issue which Havi Carel deals with so clearly in her book.
I did like this quote in the news item however –
In the 1920’s Francis Peabody, M.D., wrote that “the secret of care of the patient is caring for the patient”
Heroes Not Zombies 
Bob, I recently found found a reference to a JAMA paper by a Neurologist called Patients like Linda . It was referenced in this very thoughtful book, which may be of interest to your dept
Basically, the author Ringel described the hx of linda who was probably made much worse by the interventions and battery of tests . The end result was a suggestion that she see a Psychiatrist ….Ringel suggested that Drs were interested in the golden nugget – the rare diagnosis ,not the routine unexplained suffering which dominates much of healthcare. Similarly Ann Oakeley a professor of Sociology describes her encounters with medicine in Fractured see here but i can’t get the full review…..
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/334/7606/1275
The people that shone for Oakely were the therapists and acupuncurist who dealt with the aftermath of living with neuropathic pain and fear …This process of restoration was described brilliantly by Oliver Sacks in his A Leg To Stand on as the transition zone from illness to wellness . This transition area is given little thought by many . I give it lots of thought as I am a Physio -Therapist –the Physical is often explainable by neuroscience in chronic cases but the therapy cannot be explained in many cases. However, I have have just finished this brilliant book–the latter half of it would reconceptualise and change a lot of thinking –not just with ‘depression’ but in interacting with people generally-highly recommended.
I too found the Havi Carel book to be deeply moving and important. I have written to her and got a reply -she runs courses for health professionals so we should get her up North!
ian
A study in the U.S. indicated patients were more likely to have preventative care services if they had a long standing relationship with their Doctor.
Some things never change. Dr. Peabody was right in the 20’s.
Dr. B
Hello
This is a great blog and i will be following it:)
I think the study is a little different than described in that press release. The aim was to produce better teachers though faculty development. Students were then asked to compare the staff who went through the course with other ‘excellent clinical teachers’ and found the trained staff (who were initially selected because they were thought to have the potential to be excellent role models) as being more ‘humanistic’.
I look forward to reading more from you.
Anne Marie
Thank you Anne Marie, and thanks for your kind comments. Hope you find a lot to interest you here. Thanks for clarifying the study. The press releases often don’t quite capture the reality, do they?
Hello:
I started a project ten years ago to help improve the psyche (humanistic medicine) of patients who are hospitalized. Every day, I solicit help to move the project forward clinically, but cannot find anyone to help me. I am confused about the reasons for this resistance, because I know that these five new ideas are needed.
I am hoping that you will be kind enough to help me with this project. You have the contacts needed to see it move forward to clinical trials etc. It does have unique ideas that would be newsworthy for a column or story idea.
I also wanted to let you know that my KID’S CLUB unit is available for non gratis donation. I cannot even give this valuable ( $1300) unit away. The project script and photos are in my Blog at : http://duanewyatt.wordpress.com. I hope that you will want to help this project- thanks very much. Duane Wyatt