Wonder, Mercy, Connection, and Paradoxical Revelation : Exploring Participants’ Experiences of Creative/Reflective Writing and Fiction Reading in a Finnish Narrative Medicine Course

Abstract

Accumulating evidence points to the benefits of narrative medicine for healthcare workers (HCWs), but how positive outcomes from narrative medicine workshops emerge is not entirely clear. Experimental psychological research suggests potential mechanisms through which narrative medicine may achieve its outcomes. However, in experimental research, the mechanisms of reading and writing usually are studied separately and with a focus on group-level effects, leaving participants’ singular experiences unexamined. To address this gap, we investigated clinicians’ experiences of combined close reading, guided creative/reflective writing, and group discussion in a seven-week narrative medicine training course for healthcare and social-work professionals in Finland. After the course, we conducted individual semi-structured interviews (n = 14). We analyzed all data using inductive reflexive thematic analysis. We generated five themes: Experiences of group reading and writing involved (1) a sense of wondrous transcendence of the everyday; (2) feelings of unexpected mercy towards oneself and others; (3) the strengthening of listening, self-reflection, and self-disclosure skills; (4) transformation of relationships and a novel sense of relatedness; and (5) ethical reflections of patient-centered ideals in daily practice. These themes extend prior findings in healthcare education and psychology by illustrating how potential benefits of narrative medicine workshops can emerge in multifaceted ways. We suggest future avenues for exploring the topic in other cultural and care settings.