The Case for Establishing The Sandra and Arnold Gold Humanism Research Fund
Several current prevailing trends in U.S. Healthcare have converged, which encourage support for research on the impact of humanistic practices in medicine.
Since the 1970’s, as the emphasis on new medical technology, scientific discovery and cost factors in healthcare has increased, the value placed on patient-centered, relationship-based, and humanistic care in healthcare has decreased.
Humanism in medicine has been further threatened by the economics of American healthcare. Greater numbers of physicians are leaving private practice to work for large hospital and university-owned practices. Often, mandatory restrictions on the time allowed for each patient visit have been imposed on participating doctors. In many instances, the time for personalized, humanistic care, such as listening to patient concerns and relationship building between doctors and their patients, has been whittled away.
Among other benefits of humanism and compassion, a 2018 data review by Brandy King, a medical librarian and information consultant, concludes that humanism in medicine leads to increased adherence to treatment plans, increased cost savings and the most favorable healthcare outcomes. This supports the widely accepted “Quadruple Aim of Healthcare”.
The need for humanism in medicine has become particularly important in dealing with the opioid epidemic in the U.S. – an epidemic that has approached crisis proportions and which requires new funding, along with innovative treatment methodologies. Educational interventions that train humanistic, empathic, unbiased healthcare providers who establish trusting relationships and use humanistic treatment tools, (like mindfulness, narrative medicine, yoga, the humanities and/or art, etc.), may help promote better outcomes with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) patients and other drug addictions. Research evaluation of new treatment plan efficacy is essential.
Medicine is an evidence-based profession, and thus it will take peer-reviewed, published research to convince many current healthcare providers of the value of humanistic practices. Education through the dissemination of research data through seminars and conferences, as well as through an online presence, will be necessary to inform this population of practicing physicians, nurses and diverse healthcare professionals about the value of humanistic practices in patient care.