Doctors' Life Stories in Undergraduate Medical Education

Strategic Insights -

Research findings have shed light on the integral aspect of everyday life - stories - in medical education, particularly in the context of doctors' life stories. The study, conducted at the University of Liverpool, explored the use of doctors' life stories in undergraduate medical education, aiming to clarify the concept and its applications. The study found that doctors' life stories have been used in various areas of medical education to achieve specific educational outcomes, although the conceptual clarity of the term remains a challenge. The study also highlighted a significant increase in the number of articles published on this topic in the last decade.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study involved a scoping review methodology, informed by established guidelines, to explore doctors' life stories in undergraduate medical education.
  • The researchers screened 4,978 articles and included 48 articles in the review, published over a 33-year period.
  • The findings show that doctors' life stories have been used in multiple key areas of undergraduate medical education, including patient care, professionalism, and communication skills.
  • The study highlighted a lack of conceptual clarity regarding doctors' life stories, with varying terms used to describe them.
  • A proposed definition and conceptual framework have been put forward to enhance conceptual clarity.
  • The study reinforces the use of doctors' life stories as a valuable tool in medical education.
  • The findings emphasize the need for further research to establish the effectiveness and impact of doctors' life stories in medical education.
  • The use of doctors' life stories in medical education has the potential to support the development of medical students into competent and compassionate doctors.

Statistics:

  • 4,978 articles were screened for the study.
  • 48 articles were included in the review.
  • The included articles were published over a 33-year period.
  • The number of articles published on doctors' life stories increased significantly in the last decade.
  • 50% of the included articles analyzed the use of doctors' life stories in patient care.
  • 67% of the included articles focused on the role of doctors' life stories in developing professionalism in medical students.
  • 85% of the included articles highlighted the importance of doctors' life stories in teaching communication skills to medical students.

Sources:

  • Doctors' life stories in undergraduate medical education: definition, key concepts and uses - a scoping review. BMC Medical Education, 2025;25(1):1390.
  • NewsRx. Studies from University of Liverpool Have Provided New Data on Education (Doctors' life stories in undergraduate medical education: definition, key concepts and uses - a scoping review). Health & Medicine Week. October 24, 2025; p 715.