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. 2008;26(4):222-7.
doi: 10.1080/02813430802325086.

Diagnostic interaction: the patient as a source of knowledge?

Merete Undeland  1 , Kirsti Malterud
Affiliations

Diagnostic interaction: the patient as a source of knowledge?

Merete Undeland et al. Scand J Prim Health Care. 2008.

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.

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