Resident Self-Portraiture: A Reflective Tool to Explore the Journey of Becoming a Doctor.

This arts- based project creatively introduces residents to photography, self-portraiture and narratives to document the longitudinal journey of becoming a family physician. Visual arts and writing can foster reflection: an important skill to cultivate in developing physicians. Unfortunately, arts based programs are lacking in many residency programs. Tools and venues that nourish physician well being and resilience may be important in today's changing healthcare environment and epidemic of physician burnout. Residents created self-portraits with accompanying narratives throughout their three-year training. Analysis of the portraits and accompanying narratives completed the assessment. Residents created a body of work that includes 182 creative and deeply personal portraits and narratives. The five most frequent themes of portraits included "Residency is Difficult," "Hobbies," "Family," "Growing as a Doctor," and "Coping Mechanisms." Self-portrait photography and reflection gives insight into the journey of becoming a family medicine physician at a deeply personal and professional level. Further partnerships between residency programs and the arts should be explored to promote reflection.

Photographing ugandan physical activity: perspectives from Mbararan youth.

BACKGROUND: The medical literature supports the benefits of physical activity for youth. In a developing country such as Uganda, there is little information about physical activity in the lives of youth. OBJECTIVES: This pilot study attempts to characterize physical activity, work, sport, recreation, and play in the lives of Ugandan youth through community-based participatory photography, interviews, and surveys. METHODS: Youth were given cameras and instruction in photographic principles. Then they were asked to capture what physical activity means to them and its affect in their lives. Analysis of the photos, survey data, and youth interviews completed the assessment. RESULTS: Results were shared within the community via discussion and exhibits. The 23 participants mean age was 18 years old (range, 15-20) and 67% had no prior experience with photography. Ninety-four percent of our participants had participated in sports as children and spend longer than 1 to 2 hours a week in physical activity. Photographic Themes include (1) physical activity related to activities of daily living (ADL), (2) cultural physical activities unique to Southwest Uganda, (3) organized sports, and (4) children's school games and play. CONCLUSIONS: Photography has been a successful research tool with youth to evaluate concepts of physical activity in a developing country. The majority of physical activity in Ugandan youth lives involves ADLs as well as organized sports. Barriers to participation in physical activity still need to be addressed. This study has implications for health prevention, injury prevention, and qualitative researchers working with youth populations in developing countries.