[Dialogues on risks and health resources in general practice]

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Epidemiology
• Health Psychology

Background:

• The prevailing risk-oriented epidemiology often underestimates individual health resources and self-assessed knowledge.
• Ethical and epistemological challenges concerning values, communication, knowledge, and autonomy are embedded in current medical practices.
• A shift towards patient-centered care necessitates re-evaluating the focus from risk factors to health resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the underestimation of individual health resources and knowledge in medicine.
• To explore ethical and epistemological challenges within risk-oriented epidemiology.
• To propose and evaluate a patient-centered, salutogenetic approach for a better balance between health resources and risk factors.

Main Methods:

• Development of a theoretical model for a patient-centered, salutogenetic approach.
• Analysis of dialogues in general practice consultations focusing on self-assessed health resources.
• Discussion of pitfalls in causality, probability, medicalization, and informed consent within the clinical encounter.

Main Results:

• The study introduces a theoretical model for a salutogenetic approach.
• Preliminary results from general practice consultations are presented, based on self-assessed health resources.
• Potential pitfalls in clinical decision-making, including causality and informed consent, are discussed.

Conclusions:

• A salutogenetic perspective can shift focus towards the patient's inherent resources and strengths.
• Effective communication is crucial, capable of either disempowering or empowering patients.
• Integrating a salutogenetic approach may lead to a more balanced and patient-centered medical practice.