Evidence-based medicine dominates current medical practice. While this approach aims to offer medical treatments backed by scientific findings, it can depersonalize care delivery. Narrative Medicine, coined by Columbia University’s Dr. Rita Charon, aims to address the feelings and experiences that occur when caring for persons with illness. This practice encourages patients to narrate their experiences and promotes creativity and self-reflection in the practitioner, which can lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of pain.¹
At institutions like Columbia University, UCSF, and Keck at USC, Narrative Medicine has become a multidisciplinary program, integrating literary analysis and reflective writing into medical education to enhance clinical practice.
In the world of corporate medicine, where providers are allotted an average of seven to 10 minutes per patient, Dr. Charon illustrates the advantages of using Narrative Medicine in the following example:
The patient is an elderly female, complaining of lower back pain. Physician A represents a typical physician, Physician B represents a physician trained in Narrative Medicine.
Physician A: Have you had an X-ray or are you taking any medication? Have you seen a neurologist?
Patient: Well, I can tell you what makes my back hurt. It’s when I pick up my grandson, and I get this feeling at the base of my spine.
Physician A: What happens if you try aspirin or Motrin? Does that help?
Vs.
Physician B: Have you had an X-ray or are you taking any medication? Have you seen a neurologist?
Patient: Well, I can tell you what makes my back hurt. It’s when I pick up my grandson, and I get this feeling at the base of my spine.
Physician B: Tell me about your grandson.
Patient: He is 18 years old and has autism, and I’m the one who’s been raising him since birth, but he’s bigger than I am now, so it’s very hard to pick him up.
Did Physician A’s line of questioning lead you to jump to the conclusion that this patient was experiencing mild temporary muscle strain and pain from picking up a small toddler or child? Did you contemplate the patient’s response to Physician B’s request “Tell me about your grandson?” Would your assessment of the patient and treatment plan differ as a result? Charon states that this example demonstrates the difference that Narrative Medicine training can make in understanding the most fundamental issues for this patient. Physicians with grounding in Narrative Medicine will have a desire to know about the patient and their life circumstances, which can assist in creating personalized care plans and treatments tailored to the individual patient.¹
John Launer, a scholar of Narrative Medicine, identifies seven critical principles, or the “7C’s.”²
- Conversations: Thoughtful dialogue that prioritizes the patient’s voice while allowing for exploration of possibilities.
- Curiosity: A genuine eagerness to understand the patient's story and context fully.
- Context: Awareness of the patient’s personal, cultural, and situational circumstances.
- Complexity: Recognizing the interconnectedness of illness and addressing multifaceted factors.
- Challenge: Encouraging both the patient and provider to reexamine assumptions and seek new perspectives.
- Caution: Exercising care and sensitivity when navigating vulnerable topics.
- Care: A foundation of compassion and a nonjudgmental attitude that demonstrates genuine concern for the patient’s well-being.
Implementing Narrative Medicine can benefit both patients and providers by:³
Deepening Patient-Provider Relationships
When doctors listen actively to their patients‛ stories, it helps create a more meaningful doctor-patient bond. A connection built on understanding encourages better dialogue, mutual respect, and more personalized healthcare.
Strengthening Trust and Respect
Patients often hesitate to share personal details. Narrative medicine builds a trusting environment, ensuring that a patient feels heard, not dismissed. This understanding fosters a supportive relationship and better adherence to medical advice.
Increasing Empathy Toward Patients
When providers listen to the full context of a patient’s illness narrative, they gain insights into not just the symptoms, but also the psychological and social impact of an illness or injury. This enhances their ability to empathize and provide compassionate care.
Improving Communication
Narrative Medicine equips providers with the tools to communicate more effectively. Structured storytelling helps decode medical jargon into language patients can easily understand, ensuring that all parties are on the same page.
Supporting Physicians in Reducing Burnout
Practicing Narrative Medicine encourages clinicians to reflect on their work, cultivating self-awareness and resilience. A provider’s ability to engage with human stories can renew their sense of purpose and mitigate emotional exhaustion.
Addressing the Overall Health of Patients
By emphasizing narratives, providers treat patients comprehensively, addressing social, emotional, and mental health needs alongside the patient’s physical needs. This holistic approach ensures better care and higher rates of patient satisfaction.²
Narrative Medicine involves listening to and interpreting patient stories to better understand the emotional and psychological dimensions of illness. This powerful concept acknowledges that the unique life experiences and stories patients bring into their doctors’ offices are as valuable as lab reports and physical exams.²
Providers may worry that listening to patients’ stories will lengthen office visits. In today’s healthcare environment, should providers and institutions continue moving toward a transactional, efficiency-driven model aimed at maximizing capacity—or is it time to consider a relationship-centered redesign of the patient-physician dynamic? Some physicians have implemented Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to improve office deficiencies, allowing them to spend more time with patients. Beware of the risks associated with certain AI programs.
As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into healthcare—through tools like documentation assistance models designed to eliminate “chitchat”—we are faced with a critical decision: What direction should care take, and what do we value most in the patient-provider relationship?³ We suggest that you consider the balance of technology with the benefits of Narrative Medicine, an approach that refocuses the practice of medicine on the person, and reenergizes providers through building human connection with those they serve.
Dona Constantine, RN, BSN, is a Senior Risk Management and Patient Safety Specialist. Questions or comments related to this article should be directed to DConstantine@CAPphysicians.com.
¹Eve Glasberg, “Narrative Medicine Teaches Doctors How to Listen to Patients’ Stories,” (June 5, 2023), https://news.columbia.edu, https://news.columbia.edu/news/narrative-medicine-teaches-doctors-how-l…
²Kim Pace, “Improving Patient Care Through Storytelling Techniques,” (Jan. 6, 2025), wgu.com, https://www.wgu.edu/blog/narrative-medicine-improving-patient-care-thro… (6/16/25)
³Gordon D. Schiff, MD, “AI-Driven Clinical Documentation-Driving Out the Chitchat?,”(May 10, 2025), New England Journal of Medicine, https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMp2416064; (5/20/25)