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Patients and agents - or why we need a different narrative: a philosophical analysis
Harald Walach1,2,3, Michael Loughlin4,5,6
1Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Medical University Poznan, Poznań, Poland.
Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine : PEHM
|October 15, 2018
Summary
Viewing patients as active agents, alongside traditional patient roles, enhances healthcare. This shift promotes prevention and personalized care by focusing on complex health determinants.
Area of Science:
- Medical Philosophy
- Health Systems Research
- Patient-Centered Care
Background:
- Modern medicine's success increases longevity, leading to more chronic and multifactorial diseases.
- This necessitates complex analyses of health and illness determinants.
- Current medical paradigms face challenges in addressing these evolving health landscapes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a new narrative of "agency" to supplement the traditional "patient" narrative in medical care.
- To explore the conceptual links between patient agency and person-centered care.
- To advocate for a narrative shift that enhances patient engagement and healthcare outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical analysis of the background assumptions within the current medical paradigm.
- Conceptual development of the "agent" narrative in healthcare.
- Literature review on patient-centered care and shared decision-making.
Main Results:
- Adopting an "agent" narrative for patients complements the existing "patient" narrative.
- This shift is conceptually linked to person-centered care principles.
- Increased focus on lifestyle and shared decision-making supports this new narrative.
Conclusions:
- Viewing patients as "agents" can significantly alter practical healthcare decisions.
- This narrative shift benefits both practitioners and patients, fostering collaboration and motivation.
- It encourages a move from disease treatment to prevention and a deeper understanding of complex health factors.
Keywords:
AgencyCausationComplexityContextLifestyleMultifactoral diseasesNarrativesPatientsPerson-centredPhilosophy of medicineMore Related Videos
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