Table 5

Language used to describe aspects of exhibition

QuestionFive most frequently used words used to describeFrequency and percentage, n=177
Qb What words or thoughts come to you after seeing the exhibition? (A total of 24 different descriptors used in all)
  • Sadness/sorrow

  • Empathy/Compassion

  • Powerful

  • Strength

  • Humanity/resilience

  • 14 (7.6%)

  • 13 (7.1%/7 (3.8%)

  • 12 (7.1%)

  • 12 (6.5%)

  • Each with 8 (4.4%)

Qc What emotions do you see portrayed in the portraits? (A total of 38 different descriptors used in all)
  • Sadness/sorrow

  • Hope

  • Fear

  • Strength

  • Anger

  • 57 (31.0%)

  • 47 (25.5%)

  • 31 (16.9%)

  • 24 (13.0%)

  • 20 (10.9%)

Qd What emotions does this exhibition bring out in you? (A total of 21 different descriptors used in all)
  • Empathy/Compassion

  • Sadness/sorrow

  • Hope

  • Gratitude

  • Fear

  • 32 (17.4%)/13(7.1%)

  • 30 (16.3%)

  • 23 (12.5%)

  • 19 (10.7%)

  • 12 (6.5%)

Qe What is the most important message you are taking away from the exhibition?
  • “A stunning and passionate glimpse into the private world of patients and caregivers” “Great work.”

  • “The importance of featuring medicine as an art and promoting the intersection of art and medicine.”

  • “Human resilience runs parallel with human vulnerability—we see, but we don't see because we aren't really looking—seeing inside the heart is difficult, elusive, and unsettling at times.”

  • “Mark Gilberts sees in some very human ways past human defences and guardedness.”

  • “The pain is real.”

  • “Fascinating, long overdue. A helpful corrective to high-tech medicine… .”

  • “I have been back to see the exhibit several times, and each time I find more … to think about. I see more depth of emotion in me—it has really made me think about what ‘health’ really can mean.”

  • “I was not expecting to gain anything from (exhibition). I was wrong.”

  • “It was extremely powerful.”