Medical psychology and psychosomatics for dentistry

Mindfulness: Mindful medical practice

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THE START

Dear students, welcome to the interactive synopsis of the topic: "Mindfulness: Mindful medical practice".
Please read the following materials after having this lesson at our department. Your task is to come to the lesson completely unprepared. Thank you :-)

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

Mindfulness

mindfulness is an ability to be fully aware of the present moment, without judgement or reactivity
mindfulness facilitates our self-regulation - an ability to consciously manage (without supressing it) the influence of impulses (such as thoughts, emotions, external conditions) on our behaviour. Thanks to self-regulation, our behaviour isn't governed by impulses, automatic habit patterns, or non-constructive types of emotions, but stays in alignment without inner values and long-term goals.

3 neural mechanisms, through which mindfulness facilitates self-regulation:

Attention control - conscious navigation of one's attention (placing, sustaining, shifting attention)
Self-awareness - an ability to distinguish knowing mode and being mode of mind and to be able to switch between them based on what is appropriate in that situation
Emotion regulation - not reacting impulsively/emotionally (amygdala), but consciously, in alignment to our inner values (prefrontal cortex)

4 mindful attitudes of medical doctor:

Neural mechanisms of mindfulness training

Note: details from neuroscience are not going to be a part of test. PDF serves only as a reminder of some of topics we tapped on during the class

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Attentive observation - when in conversation with a patient, I pay attention to what he/she is saying. Meanwhile, I'm also aware what is happening in my mind and body (tiredness? agitation? distracting thoughts?) and how it affects me (tone of voice, my body-language, slight unwillingness to be useful and kind towards the patient that I personally dislike etc.)
Curiosity - when in conversation with a patient, I approach what he/she says with curiosity. I keep my interest towards what he/she is saying, without losing myself in thoughts or inner commentary.
Beginner's mind - I discern when the patient needs me as an expert and when he/she needs a human being, that understands him and that can be trusted