The healing power of story telling

Dr Richard C. Senelick M.D., a neurologist and international speaker, reflects on his experience as a doctor and the impact on him resulting from listening to patient stories. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-c-senelick-md/patient-care_b_1410115.html)

It is well worth a read as it describes the dilemma doctors and other health professionals face when using electronic health records and still being alert to the individuality of patients.

The article goes on to say that story telling is an effective tool in health care settings because they:

· Are mentally richer than simple instructions

· Engage and involve the patient

· Trigger empathy

· Are more likely to be remembered and retold

· Promote a two-way conversation

· Transfer knowledge

But what was intriguing was the evidence that patients telling their stories can actually improve health outcomes of other patients who listen to these stories. The example given was hypertension and the lowering of blood pressure.

Patient Opinion provides a platform for patients to tell their stories, primarily for the benefit of health care providers and their organisations in terms of patient-centric service improvement. In addition, based on the above evidence, the stories on Patient Opinion can also have a therapeutic effect on patients who read them. That is why our website has a section which encourages patients to share their similar experiences if they read a story that resonates with them.

After a patient posts their story on Patient Opinion they are able to see how many other people have read their story in addition to how many others have had a similar experience. This can also be extremely powerful especially if the person writing the story feels alone in their experience, perhaps deterring them from seeking help because of embarrassment or feeling that their experience may not be perceived by the health service as being ‘important’.

One story posted on Patient Opinion about better access to mental health services shows that at least 3 other people reading that story have had a similar experience.

Other stories about a chronic pain sufferer at the Mater Emergency in Brisbane and treatment of a broken elbow at Redcliffe Hospital have both been read over 600 times.