Writing Practice Prescription

Medical students often begin their training full of idealism and hope. Keeping that idealism intact while absorbing tons of facts and technical skills challenges both them and their teachers in medical school.

Now a new descriptive study on the use of reflective writing suggests that hope lies in the use of reflective writing at various stages in their career. The study, Reflective Writing in the Competency-Based Curriculum at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, by J Harry Isaacson, MD; Renee Salas; Carl Koch; Margaret McKenzie, MD can be found in the Spring Issue of The Permanente Journal.

The authors of the study conclude in part, “Our experience thus far suggests that creating an environment that fosters reflective practice is vital for the personal and professional development of medical students. Reflective writing is a key way to stimulate and further develop this skill set.”

To read the article, click here.