Humanities In Medical Education And Patient Care: Lessons From Some Colleges Of Medicine In Nigerian Universities

Abstract

The growing recognition of the need for humanities in medical colleges has opened discussion for the integration of medical humanities into the curriculum of medical schools. The paper discusses Nigerians’ place in the realization of the integration of medical humanities (MH) into the curriculum of medical students in Nigerian universities. The study was conducted by gathering data from six colleges of medicine located in the south western part of Nigeria. The curriculum of most medical schools in Nigeria is designed in such a way that disciplines in the humanities are not included thereby preventing most medical practitioners from having an understanding of the beliefs; culture of their patients and the role of humanities in patient care. The medical librarians who participated in this study are in support of the integration of the humanities into the medical curriculum and are willing to give their support in the area of collection development to non medical books particularly in the Humanities.