Hi Everyone, So - our last blog. I have really enjoyed this class so far, and was captivated by how storytelling is a completely inborn characteristic to humans.
Since I am pursuing a career as a Physicians Assistant, I knew I wanted to incorporate my research project into that profession- how can it benefit, or teach me something that will help me in my future. Upon meeting with professor Jeffreys, I decided upon the initial meeting between a doctor and a patient. The patient history is such a vital component of a patients health care plan- and furthermore, helps establish an understanding between the doctor and the patient.
To me, storytelling fits in perfectly! When obtaining a patient history, we are essentially documenting a personal narrative. This was a perfect research project for me because it completely encompasses both of my disciplines. Obtaining a personal narrative is Human Communication, and the reasoning behind obtaining the history is for the perpetuation of the patients health- Biology.
While doing my research it was simple to find articles that pertained to my project- human communication and biology work in correlation with one another in a health care setting. Also, I was very intrigued to see that other disciplines made their way into my research as well. An article pertaining to Ancient Chinese and Eastern Indian Civilizations utilizing pictures to help spread knowledge regarding inoculations, and even an article about how the use of storytelling to communicate with Alzheimer's, or Amnesia patients- could be found in Anthropology or Sociology disciplines.
So the whole point of my research project is to show how storytelling benefits the communication between a health care worker and a patient.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Sunday, November 10, 2013
12th Blog!!!!
"the future will see an intensification, even a perfection, of what draws us to fiction in the first place." Blog about what you think he means by that statement. Then tell us your own thoughts on the future of story and storytelling. Finally, update us on your research project progress.
What I think Gottschall meant by his aforementioned statement is that, fiction takes us to place we long to be in. It allows us to interact, see, laugh, or cry with situations and people that are not relevant in our real world life. There is no way real life could compete with a fictional life, as exemplified with interactions like LARPing or gaming experiences like MORPEGS. We are drawn into fiction because we can be anyone we want to be in the fictional world. The intensification and perfection of it that I see- is that is will be more interactive, we can actually be a part of the fiction....but hopefully not to the extent of "feelies"- That just seems like a can of worms that should not be opened.
I believe the future of story will carry on and evolve- It will always keep up with technology, because I think technology and story have a symbiotic relationship. Gottschall wrote that, "Story evolves. Like a biological organism, it continuously adapts itself to the demands of its environment." (180) I think what the future may bring pertaining to stories is going to be pretty much the same. Stories alaways seem to fit the same template, however the delivery system is going to be amazing. I could see it dominating our real life. I think people should focus more on their story, in the real world, and less on the make believe life. Yesterday my brother and I had a discussion about how in our lives, we are the main character of our story of life. Story is not going anywhere. Story and storytelling It is one of the characteristics that makes us human.
My research progress is good. I am getting close to a final draft. Through storytelling and personal narratives an accurate patient history can be taken. When a patient feels that they have been heard they are more confident in their care taker, they will worry less and their stress levels will decrease. Using storytelling in a medical setting not only helps the patient feel more secure, but also enables the doctor, PA, nurse, etc. to be better care takers.
What I think Gottschall meant by his aforementioned statement is that, fiction takes us to place we long to be in. It allows us to interact, see, laugh, or cry with situations and people that are not relevant in our real world life. There is no way real life could compete with a fictional life, as exemplified with interactions like LARPing or gaming experiences like MORPEGS. We are drawn into fiction because we can be anyone we want to be in the fictional world. The intensification and perfection of it that I see- is that is will be more interactive, we can actually be a part of the fiction....but hopefully not to the extent of "feelies"- That just seems like a can of worms that should not be opened.
I believe the future of story will carry on and evolve- It will always keep up with technology, because I think technology and story have a symbiotic relationship. Gottschall wrote that, "Story evolves. Like a biological organism, it continuously adapts itself to the demands of its environment." (180) I think what the future may bring pertaining to stories is going to be pretty much the same. Stories alaways seem to fit the same template, however the delivery system is going to be amazing. I could see it dominating our real life. I think people should focus more on their story, in the real world, and less on the make believe life. Yesterday my brother and I had a discussion about how in our lives, we are the main character of our story of life. Story is not going anywhere. Story and storytelling It is one of the characteristics that makes us human.
My research progress is good. I am getting close to a final draft. Through storytelling and personal narratives an accurate patient history can be taken. When a patient feels that they have been heard they are more confident in their care taker, they will worry less and their stress levels will decrease. Using storytelling in a medical setting not only helps the patient feel more secure, but also enables the doctor, PA, nurse, etc. to be better care takers.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Blog 11!!!!
Is anyone else kind of sad that we only have one more reading left? Well, regarding Professor Jeffreys question, is it possible to write a genuinely honest memoir or autobiography, and why or why not?
I say yes. I side yes because, the memoir will be honest to the author. The works will be a recollection of life as they perceived it, so thats being truthful...right? On page 69 of The Storytelling Animal, Gottschall writes, " the future is a probabilistic simulation we run in our heads in order to help shape the world we want to live in.The past, unlike the future, has actually happened. But the past, as represented in our minds, is a mental simulation too." Gottschall continues on writing that our memories are merely reconstructions, they are by no means precise. This is agreeable. If the opposite were the case, my siblings and I would all remember the same exact things about events growing up- and that would take all the fun out of get togethers! Furthermore, we want to be heroes of our own epics! Our life is an epic! if it wasn't, we would all be moping around depressed. Life wouldn't be worth living, and stories would not be worth telling. In an article I found using Summons, ( which I LOVE by the way), titled- Memory and Self, the author Martin A. Conway writes, "The Self-Memory System (SMS) is a conceptual framework that emphasizes the interconnectedness of self and memory. Within this framework memory is viewed as the data base of the self. The self is conceived as a complex set of active goals and associated self-images." Our memory is who we are- it is where we came from, and kind of dictates where we are going to go. So, Dr.Jeffreys, I know other classmates are going to say, "no! memoirs and autobiographies cannot be truthful!" But I say, as long as your being truthful to you and your story- who to say it isn't genuine?
Next question- how are Gottschall's compelling arguments in this chapter about how we shape our own life stories possibly at odds with his claim that stories are for simulating tricky situations
Hmmm.....very good question...... Im thinking........ok, bear with me its late. I think we can all agree to some extent that stories do help prepare us for potentially sticky, tricky situations- But- if we are masters of our memoirs and we shape our own life stories, why would we even have the tricky situations in the first place? Thats my take of the conundrum of life stories vs. preparatory story. For example, when Gottschall writes, "the past , like the future, does not really exist"(169) that completely contradicts what has been said in previous chapters regarding storytelling for preparation. Why would we need to prepare for something that doesn't even exist?
give us the latest report on how your project research is going, including source citations and comments about them. My research is chugging along- I really appreciated the comments from last post, they helped me look at my research project from different angles. So thank you, all who commented.
Heres just a couple source citations-
I say yes. I side yes because, the memoir will be honest to the author. The works will be a recollection of life as they perceived it, so thats being truthful...right? On page 69 of The Storytelling Animal, Gottschall writes, " the future is a probabilistic simulation we run in our heads in order to help shape the world we want to live in.The past, unlike the future, has actually happened. But the past, as represented in our minds, is a mental simulation too." Gottschall continues on writing that our memories are merely reconstructions, they are by no means precise. This is agreeable. If the opposite were the case, my siblings and I would all remember the same exact things about events growing up- and that would take all the fun out of get togethers! Furthermore, we want to be heroes of our own epics! Our life is an epic! if it wasn't, we would all be moping around depressed. Life wouldn't be worth living, and stories would not be worth telling. In an article I found using Summons, ( which I LOVE by the way), titled- Memory and Self, the author Martin A. Conway writes, "The Self-Memory System (SMS) is a conceptual framework that emphasizes the interconnectedness of self and memory. Within this framework memory is viewed as the data base of the self. The self is conceived as a complex set of active goals and associated self-images." Our memory is who we are- it is where we came from, and kind of dictates where we are going to go. So, Dr.Jeffreys, I know other classmates are going to say, "no! memoirs and autobiographies cannot be truthful!" But I say, as long as your being truthful to you and your story- who to say it isn't genuine?
Next question- how are Gottschall's compelling arguments in this chapter about how we shape our own life stories possibly at odds with his claim that stories are for simulating tricky situations
Hmmm.....very good question...... Im thinking........ok, bear with me its late. I think we can all agree to some extent that stories do help prepare us for potentially sticky, tricky situations- But- if we are masters of our memoirs and we shape our own life stories, why would we even have the tricky situations in the first place? Thats my take of the conundrum of life stories vs. preparatory story. For example, when Gottschall writes, "the past , like the future, does not really exist"(169) that completely contradicts what has been said in previous chapters regarding storytelling for preparation. Why would we need to prepare for something that doesn't even exist?
give us the latest report on how your project research is going, including source citations and comments about them. My research is chugging along- I really appreciated the comments from last post, they helped me look at my research project from different angles. So thank you, all who commented.
Heres just a couple source citations-
Astell, Arlene J. "Storytelling as a Model of Conversation for People With Dementia and Caregivers." American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias 26.7 (2011): 535-41. Summon. Web. 5 Oct. 2013. The article discusses how storytelling is an important method for communication for people of all ages. It allows us to experience opportunities to discuss topics,reveal information, and connect on a level that we would otherwise not get a chance to with people. Story telling is very important with elderly people and patients with Alzheimer's and other Dementias. Storytelling allows them to communicate with their care giver and, if the care giver is listening thoughtfully- provide valuable information on the status of the patients health. This article is valid in my research because it shows me that storytelling can make the communication process more comfortable, a valuable aspect of the patient doctor communication exchange.
Feddock, C. A., P. D. Bailey, C. H. Griffith, M. J. Lineberry, and J. F. Wilson. "Is Time Spent With the Physician Associated With Parent Dissatisfaction Due to Long Waiting Times?" Evaluation & the Health Professions 33.2 (2010): 216-25. Print. Dissatisfaction during a patient visit is not always the fault of the physician. Patients need to be understanding as well that waiting is very well a possibility before seeing a doctor. This article showed me that wait times associated before seeing a doctor decrease the satisfaction of the patient after seeing a physician. I see this as not necessarily the doctors downfall. I think to establish a very productive relationship with a patient, the patient needs to be understanding as well. However, according to the article, "More time spent with the physician was positively related to satisfaction independent of wait times. Furthermore, among clinic visits with long wait times, more time with the physician showed a relatively strong positive relationship with parent satisfaction." I am starting to see more that though the patient doctor interaction is a two way street, the physician needs to be the overall leader of the interaction.
Gottschall, Jonathan. The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012. Print.
Conway, Martin A. "Memory and the Self☆." Journal of Memory and Language 53.4 (2005): 594-628. Print.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Blog 10, More Research!!!
With the help of Professor Jeffreys I have decided to further research the initial meetings between caregivers and patients. I want to know how substantial it is towards the patients overall health. I want to know how to make the first meeting the most effective and efficient as possible.
Bertakis, Klea D. "The Influence of Gender on the Doctor–patient Interaction☆." Patient Education and Counseling 76.3 (2009): 356-60. Print. The paper discusses the research focused on gender issue in a healthcare setting. Is the treatment from a certain sex better than the other? According to the research there are significant differences between the care style of doctors that are men and doctors that are women. According to the research, Female doctors provide more preventive services and psychosocial counseling; male doctors spend more time on technical practice behaviors, such as medical history taking and physical examination. The patients of female doctors are more satisfied, even after adjusting for patient characteristics and physician practice style." The take home point from this research, Doctor and patient gender can impact the physician–patient interaction and its outcomes.
Feddock, C. A., P. D. Bailey, C. H. Griffith, M. J. Lineberry, and J. F. Wilson. "Is Time Spent With the Physician Associated With Parent Dissatisfaction Due to Long Waiting Times?" Evaluation & the Health Professions 33.2 (2010): 216-25. Print. Dissatisfaction during a patient visit is not always the fault of the physician. Patients need to be understanding as well that waiting is very well a possibility before seeing a doctor. This article showed me that wait times associated before seeing a doctor decrease the satisfaction of the patient after seeing a physician. I see this as not necessarily the doctors downfall. I think to establish a very productive relationship with a patient, the patient needs to be understanding as well. However, according to the article, "More time spent with the physician was positively related to satisfaction independent of wait times. Furthermore, among clinic visits with long wait times, more time with the physician showed a relatively strong positive relationship with parent satisfaction." I am starting to see more that though the patient doctor interaction is a two way street, the physician needs to be the overall leader of the interaction.
Gray, Denis Pereira, Richard Baker, Arch G. Mainous Iii, and Margaret M. Love. "Exploration of the Relationship between Continuity, Trust in Regular Doctors and Patient Satisfaction with Consultations with Family Doctors." Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care 21.1 (2003): 27-32. Print. The research in this article highlights that after trust has been established between the doctor and patient, and the patient feels confident in the doctor- the patient will become a return/continual patient of the doctor. For the trust to be established, a patient needs to feel like they have been heard and fully understood. From the article, "Consulting the regular doctor, trust and satisfaction with consultations are associated, and patients who consult a doctor they trust report the highest levels of satisfaction with consultations."
Jagosh, Justin, Joseph Donald Boudreau, Yvonne Steinert, Mary Ellen MacDonald, and Lois Ingram. "The Importance of Physician Listening from the Patients’ Perspective: Enhancing Diagnosis, Healing, and the Doctor–patient Relationship." Patient Education and Counseling (2011): n. pag. Print. The topic of patient doctor communication is discussed in this research- but from the perspective of the patient. Elucidating the multiple functions of listening in the clinical encounter from patient perspectives can assist physicians in improving their listening approach." Patients from the study are often quoted throughout the research- and the input they provide is extremely valuable to me in my continuing research. One particular quote was important to me- “They should trust the person in front of them and hear what they’re saying…because I know my body better than anybody else, so I know what to expect and I know how to deal with the little aches and pains, and if the little aches and pains don’t go away, then it's not just about aging or stress, momentary situations…something is wrong, I just feel something is wrong and I think doctors should listen and investigate.” As the physician we are the professionals- but realistically- if we just listen to the patient, they will tell us what is wrong.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Blog 9 INKY PEEPS
Ink people definitely have an incredible influence on the world. Gottschall brings up a very noteworthy example, "peoples deepest moral beliefs and values are modified by the fiction they consume. For example, fictional portrayals of members of different races affect how we view out-groups."(151) I don't think the majority of Germans really had a problem with Jewish people until Hitler produced all his propaganda. Through fiction and the written word, Hitler caused the death of 60 million people. I'd say his fiction changed the world.
I also think that in the case of the Holocaust, and the American Civil War, tensions and beliefs were building, and literary works that were released just exemplified what people already felt/knew to an extent. Somerset Maugham nailed it when he said that, " fiction writers mix the powdery (the medicine) of a message with the sugary jam of storytelling." (151)
Ink people and their stories affect us emotionally. A fictional Great White Shark hurt the economy of coastal towns, and a movie called, Birth of a Nation, brought the KKK back after it was pretty much eradicated. Do you think these things would have happened if ink people didn't influence it? I am siding with Gottschall on this one, I absolutely think that ink people change the world.
My presentation research is coming along pretty steadily. I am researching all the ins and outs of diagnostic procedures, how they influence the relationship of the caregiver and the patient, and the subsequent effects it can have on the patients overall health care. I am currently thinking of questions that could be asked when I interview Physicians Assistants. If any of you have any input regarding when you meet with doctors, or PA's, or things you like/dislike about initial meetings with care takers- your input is really valuable to me. I really like peoples personal stories, it gives me perspectives I cannot realize on my own. :)
Gottschall, Jonathan. The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human. [New York]: Mariner, 2013. Print.
I also think that in the case of the Holocaust, and the American Civil War, tensions and beliefs were building, and literary works that were released just exemplified what people already felt/knew to an extent. Somerset Maugham nailed it when he said that, " fiction writers mix the powdery (the medicine) of a message with the sugary jam of storytelling." (151)
Ink people and their stories affect us emotionally. A fictional Great White Shark hurt the economy of coastal towns, and a movie called, Birth of a Nation, brought the KKK back after it was pretty much eradicated. Do you think these things would have happened if ink people didn't influence it? I am siding with Gottschall on this one, I absolutely think that ink people change the world.
My presentation research is coming along pretty steadily. I am researching all the ins and outs of diagnostic procedures, how they influence the relationship of the caregiver and the patient, and the subsequent effects it can have on the patients overall health care. I am currently thinking of questions that could be asked when I interview Physicians Assistants. If any of you have any input regarding when you meet with doctors, or PA's, or things you like/dislike about initial meetings with care takers- your input is really valuable to me. I really like peoples personal stories, it gives me perspectives I cannot realize on my own. :)
Gottschall, Jonathan. The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human. [New York]: Mariner, 2013. Print.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
The Moral of the Story
Our reading assignment this week, "The Moral of Story", was particularly interesting to me personally. I am constantly thinking about religion and spirituality in my own personal life, so to see it spun into the fabric of storytelling was fascinating. Furthermore, that religion is but a way for communities to be bonded in beliefs, and even more- morality, is a very obvious and interesting concept. Gottschall states that, "for a society to function properly, people have to believe in justice. They have to believe that there are rewards for doing right, and punishments for doing wrong."(135) It has been apparent through past chapters that fiction reinforces behaviors, possibly even allowing those who partake in it to be more prepared to handle social situations. It would make sense that one who regularly reads their designated holy books would have a greater grasp on morality and life. However, I can't stop thinking about a sentence in the chapter- do humans really just, "invent gods to give order and meaning to existence?"(120) Is religion just a confabulation because there is so much unknown? In the previous chapter we discussed how the mind doesn't like to leave voids, instead- fills in gaps so we don't leave things unexplained. Obviously religion, and its stories, perpetuate empathy and morality. So is morality and empathy an evolutionary necessity or by-product? *This could be an interesting research topic encompassing both biology and human communication.
Through the use of story- morality is continued and reinforced, and further strengthened and engrained into humanity as a culture. Biologically speaking, when practicing morality and empathy, what endorphins or hormones are being released- and do these chemicals preserve a species? When discussed together we have a chicken or egg concept. Does morality and empathy perpetuate our species, or is it a by product of being a "group" species.
Gottschall, Jonathan. The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012. Print.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Blog 7 Summon Research
I am concurrently taking INTS 4900, and have come to a conclusion on the direction I want to take my research. I will be further researching the ins and outs, along with the positive and negative outcomes of diagnosing. ( I will be attending graduate school to obtain a Masters as a Physician Assistant after I graduate from DSU). I feel through experience, opinions of others, and the research that I have done so far that there is room for improvement in the patient doctor relationship. Furthermore, since the initial meeting of a patient with their health care provider is the foundation towards a successful care plan, I have a personal interest in this topic.
I have used the DSU library website so much through my academic career here at DSU- but now using Summon- OH MY GOSH. Summon is my new favorite tool- AND if you haven't given your input on keeping it yet at the library's site- DO IT NOW!!! Here is some of my research all found through Summon.
- My emphasis are Biology/Human Comm. - you will see a very definite use of both in the research I have found. :)
Astell, Arlene J. "Storytelling as a Model of Conversation for People With Dementia and Caregivers." American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias 26.7 (2011): 535-41. Summon. Web. 5 Oct. 2013. The article discusses how storytelling is an important method for communication for people of all ages. It allows us to experience opportunities to discuss topics,reveal information, and connect on a level that we would otherwise not get a chance to with people. Story telling is very important with elderly people and patients with Alzheimer's and other Dementias. Storytelling allows them to communicate with their care giver and, if the care giver is listening thoughtfully- provide valuable information on the status of the patients health. This article is valid in my research because it shows me that storytelling can make the communication process more comfortable, a valuable aspect of the patient doctor communication exchange.
Bertakis, Klea D. "The Influence of Gender on the Doctor–patient Interaction☆." Patient Education and Counseling 76.3 (2009): 356-60. Print. The paper discusses the research focused on gender issue in a healthcare setting. Is the treatment from a certain sex better than the other? According to the research there are significant differences between the care style of doctors that are men and doctors that are women. According to the research, Female doctors provide more preventive services and psychosocial counseling; male doctors spend more time on technical practice behaviors, such as medical history taking and physical examination. The patients of female doctors are more satisfied, even after adjusting for patient characteristics and physician practice style." The take home point from this research, Doctor and patient gender can impact the physician–patient interaction and its outcomes. Seeing as I am a female who will be in the role of a health care professional this information is important to me in my future and also relevant to my research now. It leads me to wonder overall- if patients prefer to have a more "maternal" presence to confide in. Furthermore, are women easier to communicate with.
Davenport, Nancy H.M. "Medical Residents’ Use of Narrative Templates in Storytelling and Diagnosis." Social Science & Medicine 73.6 (2011): 873-81. Print. Storytelling is taught during the residencies of medical students in the United States. Students are taught templates in which to help categorize and diagnose a patient and/or their disease. The use of the templates prepares the students to know what trajectory to take pertaining to the way a patients story plays out. According to the article, " These templates make a first organizing pass at answering, “What’s going on with this patient?” They provide the preliminary structure, the warp and weft, for building a patient story that holds together long enough to diagnose, treat, and discharge the patient." Story telling, helps the student better understand a patient while also helping the patient communicate better with the doctor- resulting in the best care plan possible. I found this research article very applicable to my topic. Medical students are being taught to use narrative templates- essentially storytelling- to help them approach an initial interaction. Naturally, patients can be scared or confused on what they are saying to the doctor- but by applying storytelling- they are able to accurately portray what they want the doctor to know, resulting in a productive care plan.
Jagosh, Justin, Joseph Donald Boudreau, Yvonne Steinert, Mary Ellen MacDonald, and Lois Ingram. "The Importance of Physician Listening from the Patients’ Perspective: Enhancing Diagnosis, Healing, and the Doctor–patient Relationship." Patient Education and Counseling (2011): n. pag. Print. The topic of patient doctor communication is discussed in this research- but from the perspective of the patient. Elucidating the multiple functions of listening in the clinical encounter from patient perspectives can assist physicians in improving their listening approach." Patients from the study are often quoted throughout the research- and the input they provide is extremely valuable to me in my continuing research. One particular quote was important to me- “They should trust the person in front of them and hear what they’re saying…because I know my body better than anybody else, so I know what to expect and I know how to deal with the little aches and pains, and if the little aches and pains don’t go away, then it's not just about aging or stress, momentary situations…something is wrong, I just feel something is wrong and I think doctors should listen and investigate.” As the physician we are the professionals- but realistically- if we just listen to the patient, they will tell us what is wrong.
I really found this article important to my research because it comes from the perspective of the patient. So many articles are dedicated to the doctors perspective of what good diagnoses are- but very few ask the patient what they think constitutes a good initial meeting. To step out of a doctors narrative and listen to a patients will produce very effective outcomes in a patients health- and that is the ultimate end goal.
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