Document Detail


On the remarkable persistence of asymmetry in doctor/patient interaction: A critical review.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21454003     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Doctor/patient interaction has been the object of various reform efforts in Western countries since the 1960s. It has consistently been depicted as enacting relationships of dominance or oppression. Most younger medical practitioners have received interaction skills training during their professional education, intended to encourage more equal forms of consultation behaviour. However, the evidence that 'patient-centredness' has a positive impact on health outcomes is at best mixed. At the same time, empirical studies of consultations point to the remarkable persistence of asymmetry. These two factors together suggest that asymmetry may have roots that are inaccessible to training programmes in talking practices. Illustrating our argument with findings from conversation analytic studies of doctor/patient interaction, we suggest that asymmetry lies at the heart of the medical enterprise: it is founded in what doctors are there for. As such, we argue that both critical and consumerist analysts and reformers have crucially misunderstood the role and nature of medicine.
Authors:
Alison Pilnick; Robert Dingwall
Related Documents :
21371053 - Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose: senior nhs managers' narratives of restruct...
10947293 - Benefit cost management in the new millennium.
17679493 - Enhancing motor learning through dyad practice: contributions of observation and dialogue.
Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2011-3-29
Journal Detail:
Title:  Social science & medicine (1982)     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1873-5347     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2011 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-4-1     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8303205     Medline TA:  Soc Sci Med     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  -     Citation Subset:  -    
Copyright Information:
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Assessment of aided phytostabilization of copper-contaminated soil by X-ray absorption spectroscopy ...
Next Document:  Parenthood, drinking locations and heavy drinking.