Storytelling

Storytelling is the interactive art of using words and actions to reveal the elements and images of a story while encouraging the listener's imagination. Storytelling involves a two-way interaction between a storyteller and one or more listeners. The responses of the listeners influence the telling of the story. In fact, storytelling emerges from the interaction and cooperative, coordinated efforts of teller and audience.

History of Storytelling

Storytelling is one of the oldest forms of entertainment. In many ways, storytelling is a foundation for many other art forms. With the advent of writing and the use of stable, portable media, stories were recorded, transcribed and shared over wide regions of the world. Stories have been carved, scratched, painted, printed or inked onto wood or bamboo, ivory and other bones, pottery, clay tablets, stone, palm-leaf books, skins (parchment), bark cloth, paper, silk, canvas and other textiles, recorded on film and stored electronically in digital form.

Medical Storytelling

In the field of medicine, storytelling has been used as a powerful tool for health professionals. It is a way to share experiences, knowledge, and to make sense of illness and health. Medical storytelling can take many forms including patient narratives, peer stories, and narratives used in medical education.

Benefits of Storytelling in Medicine

Storytelling in medicine has several benefits. It can improve the doctor-patient relationship, increase understanding of a patient's experience, and provide a therapeutic outlet for health professionals. Storytelling can also be used as a teaching tool in medical education, helping students to understand complex medical conditions and treatments.

See Also

• Narrative Medicine
• Health Communication
• Patient Narrative