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Blanton S.1, Greenfield B.1, Carey J.2, Jenson G.3, Kirsch N.4, Swisher L.L.5, Reiss A.1, Kapasi Z.1
1Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Atlanta, United States, 2University of Minnesota, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Minneapolis, United States, 3Creighton University, Graduate School and College of Professional Studies, Omaha, United States, 4Rutgers University, Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Sciences, Newark, United States, 5University of South Florida, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tampa, United States
Background: While the humanities have been a growing part of medical education, little work has been done to address this area of study in rehabilitation sciences. Health humanities (disciplines of humanities, social sciences and the arts) offer a language to articulate the human condition and create a greater understanding of the lived experience of disability and healing. The humanities provide insight into the illness experience, the nature of suffering, the ethics of practice and the nature of caring. Although a handful of journals are currently devoted to humanities in medicine and nursing, noticeably absent from this group is a focused publication representing rehabilitation sciences. The Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation (JHR) was developed to help fill this void and create unique opportunities to facilitate international, interdisciplinary-shared scholarship.
Purpose: The purpose is to illustrate the roles of health humanities and JHR to deepen the connection between the science of rehabilitation and the art of patient care. The goal of this effort is to broaden the understanding of the concepts of humanities in rehabilitation research, education and practice and create a rich breeding ground for innovative ideas to foster collaboration between the academician, clinician, patient and communities we serve.
Methods: The first journal devoted to humanities in rehabilitation sciences, JHR is a peer reviewed, multi-media journal using a collaborative model with rehabilitation professionals, patients and their families to gain a greater understanding of the human experience of disability through a wide variety of humanities, including art, literature and narrative. Published works are in English. The intent of this interdisciplinary and international journal is to raise the consciousness and deepen the intellect of the humanistic relationship in rehabilitation. We support a broad range of authors, inclusive of faculty, students, researchers, clinicians, and general public, in publishing scholarly, peer-reviewed papers and artistic works on topics that advance the visibility, understanding and delivery of rehabilitation. To foster public and international accessibility, JHR is an online, open-access publication, freely available to individuals and institutions, and submissions are at no cost to authors.
Results: To date, three issues have been published and current circulation of JHR includes 15,000 website users from 131 countries and a subscriber list of over 11,000 individuals. Contributing authors include 2 Pulitzer Prize winners and the Editorial Board consists of interdisciplinary scholars recognized internationally in rehabilitation.
Conclusion(s): The wisdom of humanities scholarship creates a foundation to connect the science of rehabilitation to the art of patient care. JHR seeks to inspire and advance scholarship and education in the humanities for healthcare professionals who work in rehabilitation, to foster patient-driven care and mindful practice, and to explore the human experiences of individuals living with disabilities.
Implications: JHR provides a scholarly archive for explorations of the integration of humanities into rehabilitation education, research and clinical care and offers a platform for global engagement and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Funding acknowledgements: Emory University Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of English, Disabilities Studies Initiative; Center for Digital Scholarship
Topic: Professional practice: other
Ethics approval: Not required
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
