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Related Experiment Videos

Theme-oriented discourse analysis of medical encounters.

Celia Roberts1, Srikant Sarangi

  • 1Department of Education and Professional Studies, King's College London, UK. celiaroberts@lineone.net

Medical Education
|May 25, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Theme-oriented discourse analysis reveals how language shapes professional practice by examining talk in medical settings. This approach enhances understanding of communication and aids in developing better interventions.

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Area of Science:

  • Linguistics and Sociology
  • Communication Studies
  • Medical Sociology

Background:

  • Professional practice is significantly influenced by language and communication dynamics.
  • Understanding the nuances of interaction is crucial in healthcare settings.
  • Existing models of good practice may lead to misunderstandings in diverse contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore how language constructs professional practice using theme-oriented discourse analysis.
  • To investigate meaning negotiation in interactions within healthcare.
  • To identify communication challenges and develop improved interventions in medical settings.

Main Methods:

  • Theme-oriented discourse analysis of naturally occurring interactions.
  • Transcription of recordings combined with ethnographic knowledge.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of linguistic features (intonation, vocabulary) and rhetorical patterns.

    • Main Results:

    • Interactions in genetic counseling reveal tensions around risk, leading to 'rhetorical duels'.
    • In multilingual primary care, communication breakdowns occur when interpretive processes are assumed.
    • Detailed analysis of talk highlights how meaning is negotiated and judgments are formed.

    Conclusions:

    • Discourse analysis allows for a slowed-down examination of interpretive processes in medical communication.
    • Collaborative work between discourse analysts and health professionals can address communication problems.
    • This approach can lead to the development of tools for better understanding and improving medical communication.