Diagnostic interaction: The patient as a source of knowledge?

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Objective. To explore diagnostic interaction to understand more about why some problems appear medically unexplained. Design. A qualitative discourse analysis case study. Setting. Encounters between women patients and general practitioners in primary healthcare. Subjects. Microanalysis of two audiotaped consultations without a clear-cut diagnosis and opposing levels of mutuality between doctor and patient. Main outcome measures. Descriptions of linguistic patterns in diagnostic interaction. Results. Two patterns were identified demonstrating how different ways of speech acts contribute or obstruct diagnostic interaction and common ground for understanding. To invite or reject the patient into/from the diagnostic process, and to recognize or stereotype the patient may impose on how illness stories are perceived as medically unexplained. Conclusion. Making sense of illness can be enhanced by inviting and recognizing the patient's story.