Arts-enhanced health education
Clinical students have much to learn that is often beyond the scope of conventional health professions' education, particularly in the areas of critical thinking, managing uncertainty, effective verbal and non-verbal communication, responding to pain, acting with cultural competence, promoting health and leading change.
There is a growing evidence base to suggest that arts based learning can help students develop these skills - skills that will be required in order to both negotiate and thrive within the complex clinical environment.
The case studies below report on programmes that aimed to test and trial a range of pedagogic interventions, co-developed by clinical educators and artists in response to current educational challenges. These innovative programmes extended and enriched the teaching practices of educators and artists alike, while enhancing the learning experience and personal wellbeing of students training in the health professions.
The arts offer a powerful medium through which to engage imaginatively, emotionally and critically with a subject and to showcase and enhance students’ communication, intuitive and cognitive skills. I am delighted that staff and students across the four health faculties at King’s are experimenting and innovating with arts-based approaches to their teaching and learning. I am confident that this work will contribute to the development of our students as healthcare professionals who will, as well as being technically proficient, be capable of drawing upon a full range of human, social and cultural resources to deliver patient-centred healthcare.
Professor Nicola Phillips,Vice-President and Vice-Principal (Education)