Medical Humanities

Scope & Guideline

Redefining Healthcare Through a Humanistic Lens.

Introduction

Immerse yourself in the scholarly insights of Medical Humanities with our comprehensive guidelines detailing its aims and scope. This page is your resource for understanding the journal's thematic priorities. Stay abreast of trending topics currently drawing significant attention and explore declining topics for a full picture of evolving interests. Our selection of highly cited topics and recent high-impact papers is curated within these guidelines to enhance your research impact.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN1468-215x
PublisherBMJ PUBLISHING GROUP
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Converge1997, from 2000 to 2024
AbbreviationMED HUMANIT / Med. Humanit.
Frequency4 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressBRITISH MED ASSOC HOUSE, TAVISTOCK SQUARE, LONDON WC1H 9JR, ENGLAND

Aims and Scopes

The journal 'Medical Humanities' focuses on the intersection of health, medicine, and the humanities, exploring how cultural, artistic, and ethical considerations shape our understanding of health and illness.
  1. Interdisciplinary Research:
    The journal promotes research that bridges the gap between the medical sciences and the humanities, encouraging collaboration across disciplines such as literature, art, philosophy, and social sciences.
  2. Narrative and Storytelling in Medicine:
    A core area of focus is the use of narrative and storytelling as tools for understanding patient experiences, doctor-patient relationships, and the broader implications of health narratives on society.
  3. Cultural and Historical Perspectives:
    The journal emphasizes the importance of cultural and historical contexts in shaping health practices and experiences, examining how different cultures interpret illness and wellness.
  4. Critical Examination of Medical Practices:
    It encourages critical analysis of medical practices, ethics, and policies, promoting discussions on issues such as equity, access, and the social determinants of health.
  5. Creative Arts in Health:
    The integration of creative arts—such as literature, visual arts, and performance—into medical education and practice is a unique contribution of the journal, highlighting the therapeutic aspects of the arts.
Recent publications in 'Medical Humanities' indicate emerging themes that reflect contemporary concerns and innovative approaches to health and medicine, particularly in the wake of global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
  1. Impact of COVID-19 on Health Narratives:
    There is a growing focus on the narratives surrounding COVID-19, exploring its psychological, social, and ethical implications, which has become increasingly relevant in the current global context.
  2. Art and Mental Health:
    The intersection of art and mental health is gaining traction, with studies highlighting the therapeutic potential of creative practices for mental well-being and recovery.
  3. Health Equity and Social Justice:
    Emerging themes emphasize health equity, social justice, and the impact of systemic inequalities on health outcomes, reflecting a broader societal call for justice in healthcare.
  4. Digital Humanities in Health Research:
    The integration of digital tools and methodologies in health humanities research is on the rise, enabling new ways to analyze and present health-related data and narratives.
  5. Narrative Medicine and Patient-Centered Care:
    There is an increasing emphasis on narrative medicine and patient-centered care, focusing on the importance of understanding patients’ stories and experiences in healthcare settings.

Declining or Waning

While 'Medical Humanities' has a robust set of themes, certain areas have seen a decline in prominence over recent years, reflecting shifting interests and the evolving landscape of health and humanities research.
  1. Traditional Biomedical Ethics:
    There has been a noticeable decrease in papers primarily focusing on traditional biomedical ethics, as the field expands to include broader cultural and social perspectives on health.
  2. Historical Medical Practices:
    Research centered solely on historical medical practices has waned, potentially overshadowed by contemporary issues and the urgent need to address current health crises.
  3. Static Representations of Disability:
    Discussions around disability have shifted from static representations to more dynamic, intersectional approaches, leading to a decline in traditional narratives that do not engage with these complexities.

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