Understanding our patients. An anthropological approach.
OBJECTIVE
To provide an accurate description of the views of a suburban population on health, disease and its causes and the provision of medical and other forms of care. A specific purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the relevance of this research methodology and its similarity to general practice.


METHODS
An ethnographic study. A discrete Australian coastal suburb with a broad socio-demographic mix.


RESULTS
The health beliefs of the population and their views on the delivery of care are briefly summarised. A fuller report is available from the General Practice Evaluation Program--Grant No. 275.


CONCLUSIONS
The application of ethnographic methods of Australian suburbia provides new, valid and reliable information which is needed if the health messages and care provided to people are to be relevant.
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, New South Wales.
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Reid
D000884:Anthropology, Cultural / Q000379:methods*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D001315:Australia; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013038:Specialization