Identifying the Structural and Functional Dimensions of Chronic Disease Follow-Up Interviews

The structure of medical interviews is a topic that has been extensively investigated in the scientific literature. However, some medical contexts remain unexplored, such as follow-up interviews for chronic diseases, despite being particularly rich in interactional, relational and emotional information. In this study, we set out to extract a hierarchical and functional structure from these medical consultations. The analysis method used was inspired by the methods of discourse analysis developed by the Geneva school of Roulet and colleagues. We recorded, transcribed and analyzed 13 authentic chronic disease follow-up interviews with hospital specialists. Following these analyses, we extracted a functional structure of these interviews with the phases and sequences that compose them. Findings distinguish similarities and disparities between chronic disease follow-up visits and other types of medical visits. Our discussion articulates how these types of patient-physician exchanges are similar to, but also different from, other types of medical interactions in different settings.