Evaluation of arts and humanities programs in surgery education: a systematic review

Abstract

Purpose

This systematic review seeks to understand what outcomes have been reported for arts and humanities programs in surgery education.

Methods

Authors searched Medline ALL (Ovid), Embase.com, Web of Science, and Academic Search Ultimate to identify articles on evaluated arts and humanities programs in surgery education. The search identified 1,282 titles and abstracts, of which 55 underwent independent full-text review. The authors identified 10 articles that met inclusion criteria, from which they collected and analysed data.

Results

Medical students were the identified learners in most studies (6/10; 60%). Reflective writing was the arts and humanities activity in half of the studies (5/10; 50%); activities based on film, visual art other than film, literature, or social media in the remaining studies (5/10; 50%). Most studies (8/10; 80%) featured a non-controlled, non-randomized design. Authors categorised 5 studies (50%) as Kirkpatrick Level 1, 4 (40%) as Level 2, and 1 (10%) as Level 3.

Conclusion

Integration of the arts and humanities into surgery education may promote increased levels of learner reflection and empathy, in addition to improved acquisition of surgical skills. More rigorous evaluation of these programs would clarify the impact of arts and humanities programs on surgery learners.

Keywords:

• Medical education
• visual arts
• performing arts
• literature
• reflective writing
• film

Acknowledgements

Dr Chisolm is the Director of the Paul McHugh Program for Human Flourishing, through which her work is supported.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).