Related Experiment Videos
Patient and physician explanatory models for acute bronchitis
Laura M Snell1, Ruth P Wilson, Kevin C Oeffinger
1Department of Family Practice and Community Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 75390-9067, USA. laura.snell@usouthwestern.edu
The Journal of Family Practice
|January 24, 2003
Summary
Physician and patient understanding of acute bronchitis often differs, particularly regarding cause and illness progression. This contributes to antibiotic prescribing, despite congruous views on treatment. Better communication is needed.
Area of Science:
- General Practice
- Medical Communication
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Acute bronchitis is a common condition with varied patient and physician explanatory models.
- Understanding these models is crucial for improving diagnosis, treatment, and communication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop explanatory models for physician and patient understanding of acute bronchitis.
- To describe patient expectations and needs during acute bronchitis episodes.
- To enhance physician-patient communication regarding acute bronchitis.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative, semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted.
- A homogeneous sample of 30 family physicians and 30 adult patients participated.
- Analysis focused on etiology, symptom onset, pathophysiology, illness course, and treatment.
Main Results:
- Patient and physician models aligned on symptoms but differed on etiology and illness course.
- Models for treatment were congruent, though based on different reasoning.
- Discrepancies highlight potential for miscommunication.
Conclusions:
- Patients often have a vague understanding of infection processes (bacterial vs. viral).
- Physician miscommunication about illness course and patient expectations contribute to antibiotic prescribing.
- Physician "fear of missing something" also influences treatment decisions.