Why Should Healthcare Students Care About the Humanities?

Alice Barber, Intercalating

What are the humanities?

When a lot of people—especially scientists like medical students—think of the humanities, it can often conjure thoughts of ‘fluffy’ subjects with no solid foundation. But, according to the British Academy, the humanities are as far from this as you can get – they are the study of the human societies that we live in, past and present (MacCulloch, D. 2018). As this suggests, it  includes a diversity of subjects—from history and politics to literature and ethics. The nature of the humanities is never-ending—not only are there many different human societies, but they evolve at such a rapid rate that they are not the same from one decade to the next. The humanities have much to offer and it is important for healthcare students to engage with them. 

How can the humanities help us as medical students?

Let’s look at how the humanities can benefit us personally. It is widely recognised that it is important for well-being to have interests outside of medicine (Mind, 2022). Whilst there are many different hobbies to consider, the humanities present a wide range of opportunities that are accessible to everyone. They provide us with outlets for the stress of our studies and allow us to focus on something that isn’t upcoming exams or what we saw on placement that day. 

Other than just being a hobby, the humanities can help us to be better and more effective medical students and clinicians. In an emerging field known as bibliotherapy, reading fiction has been shown to greatly improve mental health and navigation of the uncertainties of life (Dovey, C. 2015). If reading can help us to develop emotional resilience as future doctors it should be an invaluable tool during our medical school careers and beyond. As well as personal development, fiction can help us develop skills key to being a doctor. For example, reading fiction has also been shown to help people to develop greater empathy (Dovey, C. 2015).  

There are other areas of humanities that are essential to being informed about the world of medicine. It is imperative that we learn about the history of medicine, and its many failings, so that we can learn from the past. An example of this is the history of how women have been historically failed by medicine, which is discussed in great detail in the book ‘Unwell Women’ by Dr Elinor Cleghorn (Cleghorn, E. 2021). It is important that we are aware of the failings our predecessors and learn from them. 

So, not only can the humanities help us to rest from the busy world of medicine, but they can also equip us with knowledge that makes us better clinicians and maintain our well-being whilst doing this. 

How can the humanities help patients?

Evidence has also shown that the humanities can present powerful ways to treat and support patients (Stuckey, H. L. & Nobel, J. 2010). The ways in which the humanities can benefit medical students by improving their mental health can also benefit patients. 

In addition to the mental benefits, research has shown that engagement in humanities, especially music, can have physical benefits for patients (Hirsch, S., & Meckes, D. 2000). Music therapy has been shown to not only reduce anxiety levels in cancer patients, but also to reduce pain levels and increase immunity (Hirsch, S., & Meckes, D. 2000). Alongside music, expressive writing has been shown to have benefits for both mental and physical health, in particular immunity and the cardiovascular system (Esterling, B. A. et al. 1999).

This creates a strong argument for health care students learning how to include humanities in patient care. As health care students we are studying to be able to provide the best care for our future patients, as the evidence has begun to show the vast benefit of the humanities, we should be willing to engage in learning about these avenues of treatment. 

How can medical students get involved in humanities?

Getting involved in the humanities doesn’t just have to be along the lines of what we learnt at school—like geography and religious studies (although these can be interesting to learn about!). Engaging in the humanities can be done via joining a book club, creative writing, crafting, learning a language, listening to new genres of music, learning about the history of the medicine we study every day. 

There are ways that we can get involved in humanities in structured ways, such as intercalating in a medical humanities subject, or joining a language course. There are also more informal methods, such as setting time aside to read in the evenings or learning a new craft. Whichever way you choose, you can’t go wrong—the humanities are of great importance to medical students and are invaluable in medical practice.

Resources:

• Intercalated courses in medical humanities: https://www.intercalate.co.uk/listings/?ls=medical+humanities&location=&st=listing&radius=100&lat=0&lng=0
• Future Learn course on medicine and the arts: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/medicine-and-the-arts
• Medical Humanities Podcast by the BMJ: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gb2qm30htobCQjXRVY6Qy?si=d36115ba52794812
• Unwell Women by Dr Elinor Cleghorn: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/unwell-women-a-journey-through-medicine-and-myth-in-a-man-made-world/9781474616850

References

Cleghorn, E. 2021. Unwell Women. London, UK: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. 

Dovey, C. 2015. Can reading make you happier? [Online]. [Accessed 27th Feb 2022]. Available from: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/can-reading-make-you-happier

Esterling, B. A., L’Abate, L., Murray, E. J., & Pennebaker, J. W. 1999. Empirical foundations for writing in prevention and psychotherapy: mental and physical health outcomes. Clinical psychology review. 19(1), pp79–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0272-7358(98)00015-4

Hirsch, S., & Meckes, D. 2000. Treatment of the whole person: incorporating emergent perspectives in collaborative medicine, empowerment, and music therapy. J Psychosoc Oncol. 18(2), pp65–77.

MacCulloch, D. 2018. What are the humanities? The British Academy. [Online]. [Accessed 27th January 2022]. Available from: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/blog/what-are-humanities/

Mind. 2022. Five ways to wellbeing. [Online]. [Accessed 26th Feb 2022]. Available from: https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/mental-health-at-work/taking-care-of-yourself/five-ways-to-wellbeing/Stuckey, H. L., & Nobel, J. 2010. The connection between art, healing, and public health: a review of current literature. American journal of public health. 100(2), pp254–263. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2008.156497