Observation of art enhances medical students' cultural and gender awareness, recognition, and clinical empathy

BACKGROUND: As patient populations become more diverse, cultural and gender competency are increasingly important for clinicians to learn and practice. Cultural and gender competency in the doctor-patient interaction may reduce healthcare inequities perpetuated by structural and personal racism and sexism. Here, we assessed whether a medical humanities elective involving observation of fine art for premedical (post-baccalaureate) and first- and second-year preclinical medical students could enhance their cultural and gender awareness.

METHODS: Over three cohort years of the elective, we assessed students' written responses to artworks for culture and gender references. We also surveyed students when they were in clinical rotations or practice regarding the perceived impact of the elective on their clinical skills.

RESULTS: Medical and premedical students recognise, note, and interpret a variety of details regarding the culture and gender of people depicted in the artworks. Of the 93 student responses to the art pieces that we analysed (three years of the elective; five to six sessions per year; 2-8 students per session), 66% (62) of their responses noted culture and 73% (68) noted gender details. In the retrospective survey, most students agreed or strongly agreed that the art observation elective improved their awareness of their patients' cultures and gender and their empathy towards their patients.

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that electives involving art observation may enhance medical and premedical students' cultural and gender awareness and competency in the doctor-patient relationship. In the long term, increased cultural and gender competency by clinicians could mitigate ongoing healthcare inequities due to structural and personal biases.