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Related Experiment Videos

The concept of disease.

E J Campbell, J G Scadding, R S Roberts

    British Medical Journal
    |September 29, 1979
    PubMed
    Summary

    The meaning of "disease" varies between laypeople and medical professionals. Doctors are more likely to classify non-infectious conditions as diseases, highlighting the term's ambiguity.

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    The meaning of words.

    Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine·2010

    Area of Science:

    • Medical Sociology
    • Linguistics
    • Philosophy of Medicine

    Background:

    • The term "disease" carries varied connotations, influencing its interpretation by both medical and non-medical individuals.
    • Understanding these differing perspectives is crucial for clear communication in healthcare and research.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the semantic scope of the term "disease" as understood by different population groups.
    • To identify factors influencing the classification of an illness as a disease.

    Main Methods:

    • A comparative study involving medical and non-medical participants.
    • Participants were presented with diagnostic terms and asked to identify which referred to a disease.
    • Groups included university academic staff, secondary school students, medical academics, and general practitioners.

    Main Results:

    • All groups agreed on infectious illnesses being diseases.
    • Medical professionals, especially general practitioners, were more inclusive of non-infectious conditions.
    • The perceived importance of a doctor in diagnosis and treatment significantly influenced disease classification.

    Conclusions:

    • The definition of "disease" is ambiguous and context-dependent.
    • Laypeople often perceive diseases as external "agencies," while medical professionals use broader criteria.
    • This divergence mirrors distinctions between formal scientific and everyday language in other fields.

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