title: Diagnostic interaction: the patient as a source of knowledge?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore diagnostic interaction to understand more about why some problems appear medically unexplained.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative discourse analysis case study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Encounters between women patients and general practitioners in primary healthcare.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microanalysis of two audiotaped consultations without a clear-cut diagnosis and opposing levels of mutuality between doctor and patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Making sense of illness can be enhanced by inviting and recognizing the patient's story.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Buskerud Hospital Trust, Drammen, Norway. merete.undeland@sb-hf.no
authors.forename: Merete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Undeland
authors.forename: Kirsti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Malterud
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D003933:Diagnosis; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D016387:Women's Health