ArticleFrontiers in medicine2026
When stories become care: mapping literary exposure to empathy and resilience in medical students and doctors through the lens of narrative medicine.
Article in Frontiers in medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Introduction: This study explores the relationship between literary exposure and characteristic traits such as empathy and resilience. It examines this association as a potential factor associated with the development of clinical judgement in clinical care. This examination contributes to understanding factors related to "iatrogenic suffering" of the patients. Using Narrative Medicine as the conceptual framework, the study adopted a quantitative methodology by surveying medical students and doctors to explore how their engagement with literature, films, and other narratives relates to their orientation toward patient-centered care. Methods: A structured online questionnaire consisting of five sections including: Demographics, Literary Exposure, Perception of Literary Value, Empathy, and Emotional Resilience, was circulated among medical students and doctors across Tamil Nadu, India. Using purposive and convenience sampling, 120 responses were collected with informed consent. The data were analyzed using SPSS and Python software. The research employs Pearson and Spearman's correlation along with Simple Linear Regression Analysis to explore the relationship between exposure to the Humanities, especially literature, and Medicine, in order to determine its association with certain characteristic traits such as empathy and resilience. Results: The findings indicate a statistically significant association between consistent literary engagement and higher self-reported empathy and resilience. This quality has been linked in prior scholarship to greater sensitivity to doctor-induced patient suffering. Discussion: Thus, literary and narrative engagement is associated with an orientation toward compassionate care. On this basis, this study suggests that literary narratives may be considered a meaningful component within medical education, while acknowledging the correlational nature of these findings.
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