| A critical theory of medical discourse: how patients and health professionals deal with social problems. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 2583879 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Criticism of social context does not generally appear in medical encounters. When contextual issues arise in medical discourse, messages of ideology and social control may become apparent, usually without the conscious awareness of the participants. By easing the physical or psychological impact of contextual difficulties, or by encouraging patients' conformity to mainstream expectations of desirable behavior, encounters with doctors can help win patients' consent to troubling social conditions. Seen in this light, doctor-patient encounters become micropolitical situations that do not typically encourage explicit statements or actions by health professionals to change contextual sources of their patients' difficulties. A critical theory influenced by structuralism suggests that the surface meanings of signs in medical discourse prove less important than their structural relationships. In addition, a theoretical approach adopting elements of post-structuralism and Marxist literary criticism emphasizes the marginal, absent, or excluded elements of medical discourse. Contextual features that shape a text include social class, sex, age, and race. Through the underlying structure of medical discourse, contextual problems are expressed, marginalized, and managed. |
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Authors:
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H Waitzkin; T Britt |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Case Reports; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. |
Journal Detail:
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Title: International journal of health services : planning, administration, evaluation Volume: 19 ISSN: 0020-7314 ISO Abbreviation: Int J Health Serv Publication Date: 1989 |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 1989-12-27 Completed Date: 1989-12-27 Revised Date: 2007-11-14 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 1305035 Medline TA: Int J Health Serv Country: UNITED STATES |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 577-97 Citation Subset: E; IM |
Affiliation:
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University of California, Irvine North Orange County Community Clinic, Anaheim 92801. |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Communication* Female Humans Male Philosophy Physician-Patient Relations* Role Set (Psychology) Social Class Social Conditions* Social Control, Informal Social Problems |
| Grant Support | |
ID/Acronym/Agency:
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1-F32-AG05438/AG/NIA NIH HHS; HS-02100/HS/AHRQ HHS |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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