147 English summary themes such as ‘Heavy menstrual bleeding’. In addition, interprofessional collaboration during a training or meeting increases the quality of general medical care in the workplace. In chapter 7 we describe the process of co-creating a specifically created poem together with professional writer/poet Ramsey Nasr based on the discussions we had with patients in the context of stigmatization in the healthcare system, and a literature review on the role that language plays in meaning-making in healthcare. Ramsey Nasr, a poet/writer known for his rich oeuvre of socially engaged work, was invited to write a thematic poem on topics such as vulnerability, intimacy and gender inequality in women’s care. The final verse cycle was then translated into English by David Colmer and was entitled ‘Man- unless otherwise indicated’. The verse cycle contains five cantos with the following themes: gender, language, urination, shame and creation. In 2023, the poem was used in a clinical narrative medicine training, as part of a scientific study. This study describes a narrative medical intervention in the gynaecological workplace and is discussed in chapter 7. Narrative interventions typically involve three structured steps: First, participants discover and analyze a story or artwork; Second, after this analysis, they create a creative and self-reflective piece; Thirdly, they share this piece and their observations with each other. We also used these steps in our training. Topics of discussion during the training had to do with the role that language plays in our interpretation of the other, the possible bias caused by certain word choices and the impact of gender on professional and personal interactions. The writing assignment during the training was inspired by the last stanza of the second verse: ‘I demand a brand new language, a language that does not turn my words against me’. Participants were asked to write a reflection on a personal or professional experience that began with the last words ‘I demand that...’. The stories that emerged were very powerful and reflected the physical, emotional, and social impact of stigmatization of taboo-related topics. Afterwards, the participants indicated that they found the narrative medicine approach with the use of specific art such as the poem ‘The human being - unless otherwise indicated’ very useful in facilitating complex conversations about themes such as ‘shame’, ‘language’ or gender-specific problems, such as ‘heavy periods’. They experienced that the poetry texts can be interpreted in different ways and are connected to their own professional experiences. Participants found that a poem could help them see their daily work from a different perspective. Participants were also very positive about the interdisciplinary group with care providers, management, and patients who sat around a table on an equal footing. They emphasized the importance of hearing each other’s stories and maintaining a sense of community in healthcare. Finally, this dissertation ends with a general discussion of the clinical implications of this dissertation in Chapter 8 and suggestions for further research. The impact section can be found in chapter 11.
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