Confluence: understanding medical humanities through street theatre

The effectiveness of arts-based interventions in medical education is well documented1 but the development of medical humanities in Southeast Asia is a relatively recent phenomenon.2 3 The University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, was the first Indian medical school to introduce medical humanities to its staff and students. A Medical Humanities Group was founded in 2009 and membership was open to all.4 Initial activities were directed towards sharing literature, with a bias towards Indian culture, including poetry in Hindi. In the inaugural year, student-led lunchtime meetings were attended by faculty. In the second year, there was a series of lectures by eminent guest speakers, in the form of a colloquium, called ‘Confluence’. The idea was to provide a forum to discuss art and medicine as a whole.5 As a result of these discussions, the group decided they wanted to work on the street theatre-based project described in this case study. Involvement in drama offers medical students a powerful medium for self-expression, helps to improve their understanding of the experience of the illness and facilitates empathic feelings.6 7 Participation in the performing arts may also promote self-confidence,8 an …