Performing medical conversations: "between" physicians and patients

Area of Science:

• Medical Communication
• Sociology of Medicine
• Health Humanities

Background:

• Current models of patient-physician communication focus on individualistic, behavior-change strategies.
• Patient-centered care, while valuable, may not fully capture the dynamic nature of medical interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a paradigm shift in understanding patient-physician communication.
• To propose a performative perspective that views communication as a collaborative improvisation.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis and theoretical reconstruction of communication models.
• Application of postmodern and performance theories to the doctor-patient relationship.

Main Results:

• Reconceptualizes the doctor-patient interaction as a mutually-improvising ensemble.
• Highlights the interweaving of biomedical and humanistic elements in communication.

Conclusions:

• The performative model offers a more dynamic and collaborative framework for understanding patient-physician communication.
• This approach facilitates more effective negotiation of medical meaning between patients and physicians.