Demanding patient or demanding encounter?: A case study of a cancer clinic.
This paper explores the sociological relevance of demanding encounters between doctors and patients. Borrowing from Potter and McKinlay's [(2005). From a relationship to encounter: an examination of longitudinal and lateral dimensions in the doctor-patient relationship. Social Science & Medicine, 61, 465-479] reconceptualization of the doctor-patient relationship, we suggest an analytic shift away from 'demanding patients' toward 'demanding encounters'. Such a shift places provider-patient conflict within a broader socio-cultural context, emphasizing constraints facing both doctor and patient as they interact in a clinical setting. Specifically, through an ethnographic study of doctor-patient interactions at the oncology clinic of a US University Hospital, we examine the respective influences of new information technologies and patient consumerism in the production of demanding encounters in oncology. Findings suggest that these interconnected socio-cultural realities, in tandem with patient tendencies to challenge physician judgment or expertise, play a role in demanding encounters. We conclude by considering the implications of demanding encounters for doctors, patients and healthcare organizations.
Stacey
Clare Louise
CL
Department of Sociology, Kent State University, OH 44242-0001, United States. cstacey@kent.edu
Henderson
Stuart
S
MacArthur
Kelly R
KR
Dohan
Daniel
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010358:Patient Participation; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D012962:Sociology, Medical; D014481:United States