How Do Physicians Frame Medical Information in Talks With Their Patients? An Inductive Microanalysis

Area of Science:

• Medical Communication
• Linguistics
• Sociology of Medicine

Background:

• Effective information sharing is vital in medical consultations for patient understanding and outcomes.
• Physician communication strategies significantly influence patient perception and interpretation of medical information.
• Limited research exists on the specific methods physicians employ to frame information during patient interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify spontaneous information frames and framing devices used by physicians during patient consultations.
• To analyze the higher-level structures (frames) and dialogic mechanisms (devices) physicians use to convey information.
• To explore the practical application of information framing in clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• Inductive microanalysis of videotaped medical interactions.
• Qualitative identification and categorization of information frames and framing devices.
• Analysis of spontaneous and intuitive communication strategies used by physicians.

Main Results:

• Identified nine distinct information frames used by physicians.
• Discovered 66 unique information-framing devices employed in these frames.
• Demonstrated the pervasive use of framing in conveying information about knowledge sharing, prognosis, complexity, importance, and the physician-patient relationship.

Conclusions:

• Physician information-sharing practices are inherently subjective and non-neutral.
• The identified framing devices highlight the complex, artful nature of medical communication.
• This study provides a foundation for further research into physicians' information-sharing practices (praxis).