Implementation and Significance of Short-Term Reminiscence Therapy by Medical Students: A Pilot Approach to Enhancing Empathy and Understanding of Patient Backgrounds

Abstract

We report on a voluntary extracurricular practicum in which a Japanese medical student interacted with users of outpatient rehabilitation services at a community clinic. Through structured conversations based on a modified short-term reminiscence therapy framework, the student engaged with the personal life stories of older adults. By reflecting on the insights gained from these narratives, the student became aware of latent stigma toward the elderly and recognized the importance of narrative-based approaches in medicine. This experience was considered valuable for fostering empathetic attitudes and a deeper understanding of patients' backgrounds. We discuss the educational implications of this activity as a potential teaching strategy with reference to relevant literature.