Narrative medicine applications for neuro-oncology patient identity and quality of life

Title : Narrative medicine applications for neuro-oncology patient identity and quality of life

Abstract:

Brain cancer and its treatments bring a unique threat to the patient’s identity and quality of life by challenging their essential identity in significant ways, possibly including impaired cognitive skills, loss of memory, reduced coordination, altered feeling states, and limited capacity for self-expression. These impairments may have a devastating and worsening impact on the patient as the cancer progresses and may be exacerbated by the side effects of treatment. We consider possible applications for Narrative Medicine (NM) to help these patients retain and rediscover self-identity. NM encourages patients to engage their stories of illness and treatment through guided conversations and emotional writing, with attentive listening at the heart of NM sessions. Patient experiences may be shared in conversation with a NM provider, or written in a patient journal and discussed at a later time. NM sessions were incorporated into the care of patients with brain tumors at the University of Kentucky Neuro-Oncology Program. NM made visible contributions for patients discussed in the case histories of this study. Understanding the patient’s story is critical for evaluating the significance of impairments due to brain cancer and treatment relative to the patient’s unique sense of self and quality of life. NM is at the nexus of clinical management and quality of life concerns for brain cancer patients. Insights from NM sessions may also help the treatment team as they assess patient needs, attitude, and abilities.

Biography:

Robert B. Slocum is the Narrative Medicine Program Coordinator at University of Kentucky HealthCare. He holds doctorates in law (Vanderbilt), ministry (University of the South), and theology (Marquette). He has experience in pastoral ministry as well as academic teaching and administration. He has taught undergraduate courses in religious studies and ethics. He is an Assistant Professor (voluntary faculty, Internal Medicine) at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine (COM). He teaches a fourth-year COM elective on the narrative basis for patient care and resilient practice. He is a member of the Hospital Ethics Committee. He is the author, editor, or co-editor of 14 books, including a journal of reflections. His 36 articles have appeared in theological or medical journals and as book chapters, and he has made presentations at more than two dozen theological and medical conferences. He has also published short fiction and poetry. He is interested in the clinical application of narrative and the significance of narrative for identity formation. He sees Narrative Medicine as a bridge between medical humanities and clinical practice.