Clinical Narrative Thinking and Humanistic Quality Control

Li Zhao; Huang Jin-xia

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-9753.2025.04.008

Abstract：In the era where evidence-based medicine reigns supreme,scientific data and quantitative analysis constitute the bedrock of medical practice,while clinical narrative thinking is often perceived as a contrasting mode of thought.Physicians devoid of narrative thinking typically exhibit a lack of empathy and imagination,resulting in diminished clinical reasoning and crisis anticipation capabilities.This,in turn,gives rise to adverse events and patient safety incidents,impacting the humanistic quality management within hospitals.Especially as medical equipment and hardware conditions become more homogeneous,and artificial intelligence finds increasing application in the medical domain,the competition among future medical institutions will hinge on talents endowed with narrative literacy and a humanistic spirit.Against the backdrop of"Big Health"and"Emerging Medical Disciplines",and with the narrative medicine system established by Southern Medical University as a starting point,this paper elucidates the prominent role that physicians'clinical narrative thinking plays in physician-patient communication,crisis resolution,disease diagnosis,health management,and other facets.It underscores the value of nurturing physicians with clinical narrative thinking for enhancing humanistic quality control in hospitals.