Reconciling technology and humanistic care: Lessons from the next generation of physicians

Abstract

Purpose: There is concern among physicians that the rising use of technology in medicine may have a negative impact on compassionate patient-centered care. This study explores medical student attitudes and ideas about technology in medicine in order to consider ways to achieve symbiosis between technology use and the delivery of humanistic, patient-centered care.

Methods: This qualitative study uses data from 138 essays written by medical students in the United States and Canada responding to the prompt “Using a real life experience, describe how technology played a role, either negatively or positively, in the delivery of humanistic patient care.” Data were analyzed for themes about technology and the impact on humanistic patient care.

Results: Seven themes emerged from the medical students’ essays: Patient Perspective; Life-Giving versus Life-Prolonging; Boundaries between Human and Technology; Distancing versus Presence; Adapting to Change; Tools to Enhance Care; and Definitions of Technology.

Conclusion: Listening to medical students lends insight into ways to integrate technology into the healthcare environment, to ensure that physicians’ ability to deliver compassionate care is enhanced, not hindered. Utilizing perceptions of the next generation of physicians, educational and developmental strategies are proposed to ensure the successful integration of technology with humanistic patient-centered care.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Arnold P. Gold Foundation.

Disclosure statement

There are no declarations of interest to report for any of the authors.

Glossary

Humanistic care: Humanistic care is characterized by a respectful and compassionate relationship between all members of the healthcare team, and their patients and family members. Practicing humanistic care requires altruism, integrity, and empathy, as well as a dedication to service and sensitivity to the values and backgrounds of others.

Adapted from reference: “FAQs - What is humanism in healthcare?” 2016. Arnold P. Gold Foundation. http://www.gold-foundation.org/about-us/faqs/. (6 November 2016).

Notes on contributors

Arabella L. Simpkin, BMBCh, MA, MMSc, is a Research Fellow at the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Research Institute. She is Research Staff in the Center for Educational Innovation and Scholarship at Massachusetts General Hospital and a Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School.

Perry B. Dinardo, BA, is a Research Intern at the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Research Institute.

Elizabeth Pine, BA, is a Research Intern at the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Research Institute.

Elizabeth Gaufberg, MD, MPH, is Associate Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the Jean and Harvey Picker Director of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Research Institute.  She is the Director of the Cambridge Health Alliance Center for Professional Development and leads the Patient-Doctor Course for the Harvard Medical School Cambridge Integrated Clerkship.