Patient Vaccination

With the rise of new ailments and the recurrence of the old ones, the field of healthcare never ceases to seek new approaches for the improvement of the delivery of medical assistance to the general public. An efficient health care service requires the full participation of the people concerned. However, this ideal is usually not met. When there is weak or no established relationship between a physician and his patient, distance is created and their interactions are limited, which may hinder the development of diagnostic and therapeutic processes. Medical practitioners have found a way to bridge this gap. While they more known for their extensive research and studies guided by the principles of scientific medicine, the use of narrative medicine …show more content…
The physician, in turn, listens and proceeds to interpret the patient’s account before presenting it back to the patient. This process helps alleviate the pain experienced by the patient and has the potential to restore the health and well-being of the individual. (Shapiro, 2012) Clinical studies cited by Hatem and Rider (2004) indicate substantial health effects brought by writing about personal experiences of stress of an individual, such as improved lung functions of a patient suffering from asthma, and decreased disease activity in a patient with rheumatic arthritis. Another study involved a group of medical students who wrote about traumatic experiences shortly before receiving vaccinations for Hepatitis B. The study indicated evidences of increased immune system response to the vaccination among the individuals …show more content…
"Medical students rely on anecdotes of extreme and atypical cases to develop the essential ability to question expectations, interrupt stereotyped thought patterns, and adjust to new developments as a case unfolds." (Hunter, 1996) Narrative writing is perhaps the most prevalent revival of the simple clinical anecdote. However, it is considerably more complex. Reflective writing of physician involves evaluation and understanding of experiences in order to achieve deeper sense of comprehension to be used as guide for future actions as a professional and as a human being. (Mann, Gordon, MacLeod, 2009) Narrative medicine provides a physician with a framework and perspective for the patient’s predicament. It helps determine the reason for the illness. The practice of narrative medicine offers the prospect of developing a comprehension that cannot be derived from other means. (Brody, 1994) As seen from the film Awakenings, Dr. Sayer’s (Williams) association with his patients, particularly Leonard Lowe (De Niro), allowed him to understand their condition more by viewing it from their perspective. This humanistic approach is the core of narrative