A Critical Analysis of the Discourse of Doctor-Patient Interaction: A Case Study
2020
Journal of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics
The study undertook a critical analysis of the discourse of doctor-patient interaction under the ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) clinic of Gondar Hospital. Specifically, the study investigated the recurrent interactional features in the doctor-patient interactions, the manifestations of power relations through language use, as well as the ideological assumptions which are held by doctors and patients. To achieve these objectives, qualitative methods were used during data collection and analysis.
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... poseful sampling was used to select the clinic where the study took place. Data were gathered through audio-recording and field notes. Before analysis, the audio recordings were transcribed using and then translated. The translated data were analyzed thoroughly using Fairclough's (1992) three-dimensional model of Critical Discourse Analysis. The study, thus, showed that interpersonal relationships between discourse interactants could be an indicative of their social and power relations. Therefore, institutional discourse, specially, that of doctor-patient, could be a place for power struggle. Background of the Study Good health is a priceless asset to human beings; and the prominent role that communication plays has pushed effective medical interaction to a new level of importance. Subsequently, Fairclough (1992. p. 143) suggested, "The main arena for medical interaction can be most comprehensively viewed in terms of the doctor-patient relationship." The relationship between patients and doctors provides the foundations for establishing trust, rapport, and understanding, explaining diagnoses, and negotiating treatment; hence, the ways doctors and patients use language to transfer their messages determine how the patient's problem is understood, as well as shaping the relationship, which can have a healing value in its own right. Nevertheless, even though the abovementioned and other renowned scholars suggested that the interaction between doctors and patients in the health care setting is the main ingredient for therapeutic results, many researches are still showing that there is a problem regarding the interaction between doctors and patients. The main reason for this problem is that, as Beran (1999, p 23) stated, "[doctor-patient] interaction is different from ordinary or everyday spoken interaction because it takes place within an institutionalized setting. These institutions (such as health care institutions) can shape all forms of discourse, which in turn, are shaped by wider power relations. This study thus systematically explored the often-opaque relationships of causality and determination between doctors and patients, and investigated how such practices arise out of and are ideologically shaped by relations of power and struggles over power.
doi:10.7176/jmpb/68-01
fatcat:m74gqvuiprhptmxhqmle72vmt4