VARIABLE ROLE CONCEPTIONS IN DOCTOR-PATIENT INTERACTION

Abstract

Patients are classified as either functional or non-functional depending on the nature of their chief complaint. Their role expectations with respect to the doctor-patient relationship are shown to be different: functional patients are more likely to seek a relationship of involvement with the doctor, while non-functional patients seek an affectively-neutral technical relationship. Physicians are classified in a parallel manner 'Comprehensive' physicians are ready to grant psychological support and counseling in problems where it seems appropriate. 'Organic' physicians are ready to give technical help only. The comprehensive physicians interact less stressfully with the functional patients than do the organic physicians. The greater stress with organic physicians is explained by the discrepancy of role conceptions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1967
Accession Number
AD0663166

Entities

People

  • Thomas F. Garrity

Organizations

  • Duke University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Analysis Of Variance
  • Audio Tapes
  • Chronometers
  • Classification
  • Counseling
  • Frequency
  • Hypotheses
  • New York
  • Observation
  • Observers
  • Orientation (Direction)
  • Patient Care
  • Physicians
  • Questionnaires
  • Robots
  • Societies
  • Tapes

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Theoretical Analysis.
  • Trauma or Military Medicine