See better by looking at art, Visual Training for Medical Students and Doctors at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Abstract

Interest in art-related education in the medical world is growing (Cerqueira et al., 2023; Mukunda et al., 2019). The visual arts are increasingly used as a medium for developing observational skills and social competences, such as communication and empathy. Literature shows that learning through art-based observational training encourages the acquisition of a range of essential competencies and skills which come in hand in clinical practice (Cerqueira et al., 2023; Derksen et al., 2013; Mangione et al., 2018; Mukunda et al., 2019; Triffaux et al., 2019). This research aims at conducting an observational study using existing literature and validated questionnaires to examine the outcomes of art-based observational training in medical students and doctors at the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands. The research question of this study was: “Is a quantitative effect measurable in observational skills and judgement (ambiguity) as well as empathy in medical students and doctors participating in art-based observational training?”.