General Practitioners, ‘Trouble’ and Types of Patients

Stimson, Gerry V.

doi:10.1111/j.1467-954x.1974.tb00017.x

Cited by 25 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 9 publications

(7 reference statements)

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“…Stereotypes are defined as 'standardised mental representations' that are associated with the same characteristics of all members of a group (Ornstein and Ehrlich 1991). Research has shown that practitioners routinely categorise patients according to their subjective judgements about patients' characteristics and behaviour (Chesler 1972, Stimson 1976, MacIntyre 1977, Barrett and Roberts 1978, Graham and Oakley 1981, Kelly and May 1982, Lennane and Lennane 1982, Roberts 1985, Bowler 1993. Studies of general practice and psychiatry have found that doctors have gendered views of men and women, and tend to reinforce the stereotypical roles of women as mothers, wives and general carers (Chesler 1972, Barrett and Roberts 1978, Roberts 1985.…”

Section: Stereotypingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Meaning of ‘Dissatisfaction’ with Health Care: The Importance of ‘Personal Identity Threat’

Coyle

1999

Sociology Health & Illness

134

142

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Researchers argue that a number of assumptions have been made about the concepts of patient satisfaction and dissatisfaction that have compromised their validity. The aim of this study was to explore the meaning of 'dissatisfaction' with health care. Forty-one people who had experienced problems in health care were identified from a household survey of health service users. They were interviewed in depth using an unstructured schedule. A grounded theory approach was used to construct a framework inductively from their accounts. The results suggest that 'dissatisfaction' could not accommodate the range of feelings, beliefs and values people express when they encounter problems in health care. However, another concept, that of 'personal identity threat', was identified which offered additional insights into the meaning of untoward experiences in health care. This concept delineates the grounds for disappointment or dissatisfaction, and helped to capture the complexity of the feelings and views expressed. Personal identity was perceived as being challenged through experiences which were felt to be disempowering, dehumanising and devaluing. Gender, class and race differences also emerged in respondents' perceptions of identity threat.

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Section: Stereotypingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Meaning of ‘Dissatisfaction’ with Health Care: The Importance of ‘Personal Identity Threat’

Coyle

1999

Sociology Health & Illness

134

142

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“…Despite some notable exceptions (Dingwall and Murray , Jeffery ), doctor perceptions of the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ patient have received little scholarly attention. While good patients are medically interesting and allow the honing of clinical skills (Jeffery , Stimson ), bad patients refuse the responsibilities of the ‘sick role’ (Dingwall and Murray , Parsons ), have ailments that fall outside the sick role (Freidson , Stimson ) and are often characterised as being ‘willfully ill’ and responsible for their ailment (Jeffery : 105).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Good’ patient/‘bad’ patient: clinical learning and the entrenching of inequality

Sointu

2016

Sociology Health & Illness

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This article develops sociological understanding of the reproduction of inequality in medicine. The material is drawn from a longitudinal study of student experiences of clinical learning that entailed 72 qualitative in-depth interviews with 27 medical students from five medical schools in the USA. To highlight the subtle, yet powerful, ways in which inequality gets entrenched, this article analyses ideas of the 'good' and the 'bad' patient. Bad patients question not only biomedical knowledge but also medical students' commitment to helping people. Good patients engage with medical students in a manner that upholds biomedical knowledge and enables students to assume the role of the healer and the expert. At the same time, good patients possess cultural skills that align with those of medical practitioners. This alignment is, furthermore, central to definitions of the good patient. Distinctions drawn between good and bad patients thus both embody as well as enforce social inequality. The subtle reproduction of inequality is, however, difficult to discern because judgements about patients entwine with emotion.

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“…On the other hand, they are uncertain about whether their signs are serious or not and would like to go to the 69 Downloaded by [Cambridge University Library] at 03:06 14 July 2015 doctor to ease their minds but, on the other hand, they do not want to be seen to be the 'type' of person who over-utilises the service and is seen by general practitioners as a 'bad' patient (Stimson, 1976). For example, one respondent stated with reference to the early diagnosis of breast cancer:…”

Section: Illness Behaviour and Cancermentioning

confidence: 96%