The art of medicine: myth or reality? A narrative review

TY - JOUR

T1 - The art of medicine

T2 - myth or reality? A narrative review

AU - Aaron, Ronald A.

AU - Jones, Linda

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - The term ‘art of medicine’ (AOM) can be traced back to ancient Egypt. Medical education and practice continue to be influenced by unprecedented technological progress. The increased emphasis on science in the undergraduate medical curriculum came at the expense of studies in the arts and (medical) humanities (MHs). This study conceptualised AOM and rendered its characteristics visible in an attempt to confirm or dispel its reality. We used a narrative literature review and qualitative methodology to determine (1) How is AOM conceptualised and defined within the literature? (2) What are its characteristics or attributes? and aimed to (3) theorise and contribute to ongoing discourse. Our methods extend beyond the usual narrative summary and thematic analysis to develop an interpretative layer of understanding by using thematic synthesis for data analysis. We identified the attributes/codes and concepts/themes of AOM based on the levels of abstraction, with themes being more abstract. Further interpretation produced a typology of nine major concepts ranked as a concept system according to decreasing levels of abstraction. These nine major concepts are ‘Obligation and opportunity’, ‘Way of life’, ‘Art of healing’, ‘Mastery’, ‘Manage uncertainty’, ‘Empathy’, ‘Caring skills’, ‘Effective communication’, and ‘Relationships’. Thematic analysis and synthesis allowed us to disaggregate AOM into common, easily understandable, and accessible building blocks. In so doing, we believe we were able to transform AOM from a nebulous concept into structured reality. Our analysis and interpretations may provide a framework for the deliberate learning and teaching of AOM, thus restoring its central position in medical education and practice.

AB - The term ‘art of medicine’ (AOM) can be traced back to ancient Egypt. Medical education and practice continue to be influenced by unprecedented technological progress. The increased emphasis on science in the undergraduate medical curriculum came at the expense of studies in the arts and (medical) humanities (MHs). This study conceptualised AOM and rendered its characteristics visible in an attempt to confirm or dispel its reality. We used a narrative literature review and qualitative methodology to determine (1) How is AOM conceptualised and defined within the literature? (2) What are its characteristics or attributes? and aimed to (3) theorise and contribute to ongoing discourse. Our methods extend beyond the usual narrative summary and thematic analysis to develop an interpretative layer of understanding by using thematic synthesis for data analysis. We identified the attributes/codes and concepts/themes of AOM based on the levels of abstraction, with themes being more abstract. Further interpretation produced a typology of nine major concepts ranked as a concept system according to decreasing levels of abstraction. These nine major concepts are ‘Obligation and opportunity’, ‘Way of life’, ‘Art of healing’, ‘Mastery’, ‘Manage uncertainty’, ‘Empathy’, ‘Caring skills’, ‘Effective communication’, and ‘Relationships’. Thematic analysis and synthesis allowed us to disaggregate AOM into common, easily understandable, and accessible building blocks. In so doing, we believe we were able to transform AOM from a nebulous concept into structured reality. Our analysis and interpretations may provide a framework for the deliberate learning and teaching of AOM, thus restoring its central position in medical education and practice.

KW - Art of medicine

KW - medical humanities

KW - narrative review

KW - the (healing) arts

KW - thematic analysis and synthesis

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105011211311

U2 - 10.1080/09581596.2025.2534129

DO - 10.1080/09581596.2025.2534129

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:105011211311

SN - 0958-1596

VL - 35

JO - Critical Public Health

JF - Critical Public Health

IS - 1

M1 - 2534129

ER -