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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2008 Jul;23(7):991-7.
doi: 10.1007/s11606-008-0667-0.

Formal art observation training improves medical students' visual diagnostic skills

Sheila Naghshineh  1 , Janet P Hafler, Alexa R Miller, Maria A Blanco, Stuart R Lipsitz, Rachel P Dubroff, Shahram Khoshbin, Joel T Katz
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Formal art observation training improves medical students' visual diagnostic skills

Sheila Naghshineh et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2008 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Despite evidence of inadequate physical examination skills among medical students, teaching these skills has declined. One method of enhancing inspection skills is teaching "visual literacy," the ability to reason physiology and pathophysiology from careful and unbiased observation.

Objective: To improve students' visual acumen through structured observation of artworks, understanding of fine arts concepts and applying these skills to patient care.

Design: Prospective, partially randomized pre- vs. post-course evaluation using mixed-methods data analysis.

Participants: Twenty-four pre-clinical student participants were compared to 34 classmates at a similar stage of training.

Intervention: Training the Eye: Improving the Art of Physical Diagnosis consists of eight paired sessions of art observation exercises with didactics that integrate fine arts concepts with physical diagnosis topics and an elective life drawing session.

Measurements: The frequency of accurate observations on a 1-h visual skills examination was used to evaluate pre- vs. post-course descriptions of patient photographs and art imagery. Content analysis was used to identify thematic categories. All assessments were blinded to study group and pre- vs. post-course evaluation.

Results: Following the course, class participants increased their total mean number of observations compared to controls (5.41 +/- 0.63 vs. 0.36 +/- 0.53, p < 0.0001) and had increased sophistication in their descriptions of artistic and clinical imagery. A 'dose-response' was found for those who attended eight or more sessions, compared to participants who attended seven or fewer sessions (6.31 + 0.81 and 2.76 + 1.2, respectively, p = 0.03).

Conclusions: This interdisciplinary course improved participants' capacity to make accurate observations of art and physical findings.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Graded impact of attendance on total mean observation score on pre- vs. post-test observations of all images.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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