PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Mark A Gilbert AU - William M Lydiatt AU - Virginia A Aita AU - Regina E Robbins AU - Dennis P McNeilly AU - Michele Marie Desmarais TI - Portrait of a process: arts-based research in a head and neck cancer clinic AID - 10.1136/medhum-2015-010813 DP - 2016 Mar 01 TA - Medical Humanities PG - 57--62 VI - 42 IP - 1 4099 - http://mh.bmj.com/content/42/1/57.short 4100 - http://mh.bmj.com/content/42/1/57.full SO - J Med Humanit2016 Mar 01; 42 AB - The role of art in medicine is complex, varied and uncertain. To examine one aspect of the relationship between art and medicine, investigators analysed the interactions between a professional artist and five adult patients with head and neck cancer as they cocreated portraits in a clinical setting. The artist and four members of an interdisciplinary team analysed the portraits as well as journal entries, transcripts of portrait sessions and semistructured interviews. Over the course of 5 months, 24 artworks evolved from sittings that allowed both the patients and the artist to collaborate around stories of illness, suffering and recovery. Using narrative inquiry and qualitative arts-based research techniques five emergent themes were identified: embracing uncertainties; developing trusting relationships; engaging in reflective practices; creating shared stories; and empowerment. Similar themes are found in successful physician–patient relationships. This paper will discuss these findings and potential implications for healthcare and medical education.