The impact of a narrative medicine program on obstetrics and gynecology residents’ empathy ability

Abstract

Background

Empathy is essential in medical practice, particularly in obstetrics and gynecology. Narrative Medicine, which involves storytelling and reflective writing, has been shown to enhance empathy among healthcare providers. Despite its benefits, there is limited research on the impact of narrative medicine on empathy among obstetrics and gynecology residents.

Methods

This study is a prospective controlled trail aimed at investigating the impact of a narrative medicine-based curriculum on the empathy levels of obstetrics and gynecology residents. The subjects of this study are obstetrics and gynecology residents undergoing standardized training at Hangzhou First People’s Hospital in 2023, which was divided into two groups: one receiving narrative medicine training and the other, traditional training. The Chinese version of the Jefferson Empathy Scale was used to measure empathy levels before and after the intervention. A self-developed questionnaire was distributed to Group A residents at the end of the narrative medicine course to evaluate the curriculum.

Results

Before the intervention, there was no significant difference in empathy scores between the two groups. However, after the narrative medicine intervention, Group A showed a significant improvement in empathy scores compared to Group B (P < 0.0001). Residents in Group A also rated the narrative medicine curriculum highly, with 92% considering it “great” or “excellent”; 87% finding it effective in improving empathy and doctor-patient communication; and 91% feeling that this course promoted their self-reflection in medical practice.

Conclusions

The integration of narrative medicine into the training of obstetrics and gynecology residents significantly enhanced their empathy levels. Most residents perceive narrative medicine as a valued and effective means of enhancing doctor-patient communication and reflection capability.