Promoting interactional health equity through (Complementary and Integrative Health) talk during clinical encounters

Area of Science:

• Health Communication
• Medical Sociology
• Integrative Health

Background:

• Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) modalities are increasingly utilized outside standard biomedical practice.
• Patient-provider communication regarding CIH is crucial for overall health communication.
• Existing frameworks may not fully capture the nuances of CIH discussions in clinical encounters.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a revised conceptual framework illustrating how CIH talk influences interactional health equity.
• To analyze how discussions about CIH impact the patient-provider relationship and health outcomes.
• To explore the potential of CIH conversations to either enhance or diminish health equity.

Main Methods:

• Discourse analytic techniques were employed.
• Two digitally recorded biomedical encounters were re-analyzed.
• Case studies were used to illustrate key communication dynamics.

Main Results:

• Clinician responses can either prioritize the biomedical agenda (Voice of Medicine) or validate the patient's perspective (Voice of the Lifeworld).
• Negotiating CIH talk directly influences immediate interactional outcomes.
• Failure to address CIH and the patient's Lifeworld can exacerbate existing health inequities.

Conclusions:

• Effective communication about CIH can foster patient participation and promote interactional health equity.
• Integrating the patient's Lifeworld into clinical encounters is key to equitable care.
• Addressing CIH discussions has the potential to improve health outcomes at individual, community, and institutional levels.