Women's self-assessed personal health resources.
OBJECTIVE
To contribute to the development of a resource-oriented medical language by identifying self-assessed personal health resources in women.


METHODS
Key questions were developed to invite the patient to tell the general practitioner about such resources. Patients' answers were audiotaped and analysed qualitatively according to Giorgi's phenomenological approach. The theoretical frame of reference included salutogenesis, patient-centredness, and gender perspectives.


METHODS
Two female general practitioners and their consultations.


METHODS
37 consecutive female patients aged 24-85 years.


METHODS
Common aspects of personal qualities and strategies considered by women as their health resources.


RESULTS
The material unveiled health resources related to 1) internal strength mobilized by external strain, 2) interactive networks within and outside the family, 3) lifestyle practices, 4) physical and social activity, 5) acceptance and facilitation of the natural course of Disease, and 6) constitution.


CONCLUSIONS
Female patients have explicit and intelligible ideas about their self-assessed personal health resources, which can be identified and mobilized by the general practitioner and form part of potentially empowering strategies in medical practice.
Malterud
K
K
Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Norway, Denmark.
Hollnagel
H
H
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D012944:Social Support; D016387:Women's Health