Patients’ influence on doctors’ behavior: a case study of patient strategies in somatization
Patients’ influence on doctors’ behavior: a case study of patient strategies in somatization
Objective: Extensive empirical data and theory describe the inequality of power in relations between doctors and their patients. However, the focus has been on the ways in which doctors control the doctor-patient relationship. This has meant that the extent to which patients influence the consultation, and the ways in which they do this, have been neglected. Methods: In this article, we use a single case to identify and illustrate distinct ways in which patients exert power to determine the outcome of consultations. Conclusion: This analysis leads to a more powerful explanation than is presently available to understand the somatization of psychological needs. According to this, the patient organizes strategies, which include the presentation of emotional and social distress, around a biomedical model. Because of their prior decisions as to their role, doctors permit themselves to be trapped in this model.
doctor-patient relationship, biopsychosocial model of health, communication skills, professional power, somatization
309-319
Salmon, Peter
ba0b84f7-15af-44d7-b3f2-5c967247b6d6
May, Carl R.
17697f8d-98f6-40d3-9cc0-022f04009ae4
1995
Salmon, Peter
ba0b84f7-15af-44d7-b3f2-5c967247b6d6
May, Carl R.
17697f8d-98f6-40d3-9cc0-022f04009ae4
Salmon, Peter and May, Carl R.
(1995)
Patients’ influence on doctors’ behavior: a case study of patient strategies in somatization.
International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 25 (4), .
Abstract
Objective: Extensive empirical data and theory describe the inequality of power in relations between doctors and their patients. However, the focus has been on the ways in which doctors control the doctor-patient relationship. This has meant that the extent to which patients influence the consultation, and the ways in which they do this, have been neglected. Methods: In this article, we use a single case to identify and illustrate distinct ways in which patients exert power to determine the outcome of consultations. Conclusion: This analysis leads to a more powerful explanation than is presently available to understand the somatization of psychological needs. According to this, the patient organizes strategies, which include the presentation of emotional and social distress, around a biomedical model. Because of their prior decisions as to their role, doctors permit themselves to be trapped in this model.
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Published date: 1995
Keywords:
doctor-patient relationship, biopsychosocial model of health, communication skills, professional power, somatization
Organisations:
Health Sciences
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Local EPrints ID: 163711
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/163711
ISSN: 0091-2174
PURE UUID: 72e24c5e-9b69-4b25-be5f-28331a743c2f
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Date deposited: 23 Sep 2010 14:53
Last modified: 11 Dec 2021 04:27
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Contributors
Author:
Peter Salmon
Author:
Carl R. May
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