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Oliver G, Yap VMZ, Chalder T, Oliver VL, Gibney KB, Dharan A, Wilson SJ, Kanaan RAA. The challenges of living with Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT) - A qualitative study. Aust N Z J Public Health 2024; 48:100163. [PMID: 38945055 DOI: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2024.100163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We sought to explore the lived experience of people with Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT) to inform the development of a potential treatment intervention. METHODS We conducted one-to-one in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 13 people living in Australia affected by DSCATT. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS Although participants attributed the origin of their illness to tick bites, not all were adamant they had Lyme disease. Negative experiences in conventional healthcare were marked and were reported to exacerbate the impact of the illness and affect mental health. Further, these negative experiences propelled participants to seek unapproved treatments (by Australian standards). The desire for the illness to be acknowledged and causative agents identified was pronounced among the participant group. CONCLUSIONS Individuals with DSCATT experience significant challenges amid a contentious healthcare landscape surrounding chronic symptoms attributed to ticks in Australia. Our findings suggest the need for empathetic, supportive and patient-centred treatments for this cohort. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH DSCATT results in a considerable burden across multiple domains for those affected. Negative experiences with healthcare exacerbate the suffering of people with DSCATT in Australia. New approaches that acknowledge the illness experience of people with DSCATT, alongside evidence-based treatments that encompass biopsychosocial models of care, are needed to tackle this debilitating condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina Oliver
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia.
| | - Valerie M Z Yap
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
| | - Trudie Chalder
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria L Oliver
- Nossal Institute for Global Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Katherine B Gibney
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Anita Dharan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Sarah J Wilson
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; Department of Medicine, Epilepsy Research Centre, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
| | - Richard A A Kanaan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
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Jackson S. Health Controversies: Long-Term Disagreement Management Challenges. JOURNAL OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024:1-12. [PMID: 38910360 DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2024.2369810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Health controversies involve complex exchanges of disagreements over health and medicine. They unfold differently in different parts of the world, and they often extend over long periods of time. In contemporary argumentation theory, proposals have recently been emerging for "disagreement management at large scale" and for an explicit focus on design of disagreement management methods. Lewiński and Aakhus characterize large-scale disagreement as polylogic: formed of complex networks of players holding contrasting positions that are attacked and defended in multiple places. Large-scale disagreements such as health controversies are important sites for emergence of new disagreement management methods, including new ways of arriving at conclusions about questions of fact (affecting positions) and new formats for coming to decisions about questions of policy (affecting places). The controversy over myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), spanning a period of very rapid change in reasoning about health, has been deeply entangled with the design of new institutional places for managing disagreements about health. It serves well to illustrate both the large, multi-scale structure of health controversies and the importance of long-term disagreement management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Jackson
- Department of Communication, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, USA
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3
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Wolfe BH, Hintz EA. Assessing the mediating role of disenfranchising talk on the well-being of female patients with chronic overlapping pain conditions. PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING 2024; 127:108354. [PMID: 38936159 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2024.108354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Disenfranchising talk (DT) occurs when health care providers discredit, silence, and stereotype patients. Although ample research has suggested associations among negative patient-provider interactions and poorer well-being, this study is the first to investigate the mediating role of patient-provider DT in exacerbating poorer pain-related health correlates. METHODS Female patients living with chronic overlapping pain conditions (N = 348) completed a cross-sectional survey including measures of DT, pain severity, pain catastrophizing, and pain disability, as well as demographic information. Structural equation modeling in AMOS 29 assessed whether DT mediated the relationship between age, educational attainment, and sexual orientation (demographics), and pain severity, catastrophizing, and disability (pain-related health correlates). RESULTS Structural equation modeling revealed that DT mediated the relationship between age, educational attainment, and sexual orientation on pain-related health correlates, such that younger and LGBQA+ patients and those with less educational attainment reported heightened pain severity, catastrophizing, and disability when they also reported DT. CONCLUSION In contrast to scholarship assessing how demographics and pain-related variables influence patient-provider communication, this study instead investigated the mediating role of DT in pain-related health correlates. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Providers should avoid discrediting, silencing, or stereotyping female chronic pain patients' pain to potentially avoid exacerbating pain-related health correlates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke H Wolfe
- Department of Communication, Michigan State University, 404 Wilson Rd., East Lansing, MI, USA.
| | - Elizabeth A Hintz
- Department of Communication, University of Connecticut, 337 Mansfield Rd., Storrs, CT, USA.
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Johnson NL, Steffensmeier KS, Garvin LA, Adamowicz JL, Obrecht AA, Rothmiller SJ, Sibenaller Z, Stout L, Driscoll MA, Hadlandsmyth K. "It Made Me Not Want to See him…": The Role of Patient-Provider Communication in Influencing Rural-Dwelling Women Veterans' Motivation to Seek Health Care for Managing Chronic Pain. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024; 39:1161-1174. [PMID: 37161286 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2207280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Despite being high health care utilizers, many women Veterans perceive their pain condition to be poorly understood by their providers, which can be a strong demotivator for seeking care. We set out to understand the priorities rural-dwelling women Veterans have for using health care for their chronic pain, and interviewed participants about their experiences with (and priorities for seeking) health care for their chronic pain. Self-Determination Theory identifies three sources of motivation (autonomy, competence, relatedness), all of which were represented through two themes that reflect rural women Veterans' rationale for decision-making to obtain health care for chronic pain: role of trust and competing priorities. Women described their priorities for chronic pain management in terms of their competing priorities for work, education, and supporting their family, but most expressed a desire to function in their daily life and relationships. Second, women discussed the role of trust in their provider as a source of motivation, and the role of patient-provider communication skills and gender played in establishing trust. Rural women Veterans often discussed core values that stemmed from facets of their identity (e.g. gender, military training, ethnicity) that also influenced their decision-making. Our findings provide insight for how providers may use Motivational Interviewing and discuss chronic pain treatment options so that rural-dwelling women Veterans feel autonomous, competent, and understood in their decision-making about their chronic pain. We also discuss importance of acknowledging the effects of disenfranchising talk and perpetuating gendered stereotypes related to chronic pain and theoretical implications of this work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole L Johnson
- Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System
| | - Kenda Stewart Steffensmeier
- Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System
| | | | - Jenna L Adamowicz
- Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa
| | - Ashlie A Obrecht
- Department of Primary Care, Veteran Affairs Central Iowa Health Care System
| | - Shamira J Rothmiller
- Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System
| | - Zita Sibenaller
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa
| | - Lori Stout
- Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa
| | - Mary A Driscoll
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multimorbidities, and Education Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System
| | - Katherine Hadlandsmyth
- Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa
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5
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Williamson LD, Prins K. Uncertain and Anxiously Searching for Answers: The Roles of Negative HealthCare Experiences and Medical Mistrust in Intentions to Seek Information from Online Spaces. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024; 39:1082-1093. [PMID: 37072690 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2201976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
While online sources of information, like support groups and wellness influencers, can be beneficial for those seeking additional information about their health conditions, these sources can also contain detrimental information. As misinformation and even conspiracies like QAnon proliferate in wellness discourse, particularly in online support groups and on the accounts of wellness influencers, it becomes increasingly important to understand what may contribute to individuals seeking information from these sources. Based on uncertainty in illness theory and the theory of motivated information management, we conducted a cross-sectional survey (N = 544) to test the role of negative health-care experiences and medical mistrust in uncertainty and information seeking from online support groups and wellness influencers across those with chronic and acute health concerns. Results indicated that negative health-care experiences had an indirect effect on information seeking from both online support groups and wellness influencers. This indirect effect, however, operated through uncertainty anxiety but not uncertainty discrepancy. For those with chronic conditions, the indirect effect also included medical mistrust. Implications and future extensions of the results are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kai Prins
- Department of Communication Arts, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Zirnsak T, Elwyn R, McLoughlan G, Le Couteur E, Green C, Hill N, Roberts R, Maylea C. "I have to fight for them to investigate things": a qualitative exploration of physical and mental healthcare for women diagnosed with mental illness. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1360561. [PMID: 38751585 PMCID: PMC11095107 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1360561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Women play a significant role in the management of their own healthcare and that of others, however women diagnosed with mental illness and physical health concerns experience significant health inequalities as compared to people living without mental health concerns. Methods In this paper, we reflect on the experiences of 20 cis women diagnosed with mental and physical health concerns who agreed to be a part of this research. This qualitative study is part of the larger Healthtalk Australia research project which was not gender specific. Female participants shared many experiences of mental and physical healthcare in interviews with researchers that pointed to the need for a gendered approach to addressing health inequalities. Consequently, we iteratively consolidated transcripts of interviews with participants into thematic categories facilitated by NVIVO 12. Results We identified two broad themes and a set of subthemes: in the doctor's office - experience of labelling; negotiating medications; and interactions with physical and mental health, and outside the doctor's office - responses to trauma, financial concerns, and reliance on participant's internal resources to get healthcare needs met. Discussion We conclude that participants in this study undertook significant work to manage their own healthcare needs, despite being challenged by clinicians and systems that failed to see them as whole people with expertise regarding their own health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Zirnsak
- Social Work and Social Policy, Department Clinical and Community Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Rosiel Elwyn
- Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Birtinya, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Esther Le Couteur
- School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Chloe Green
- Department of English, Drama and Film, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Nicholas Hill
- School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Russell Roberts
- School of Business, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW, Australia
| | - Chris Maylea
- School of Law, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Briscoe S, Thompson Coon J, Melendez-Torres GJ, Abbott R, Shaw L, Nunns M, Garside R. Primary care clinicians' perspectives on interacting with patients with gynaecological conditions: a systematic review. BJGP Open 2024; 8:BJGPO.2023.0133. [PMID: 37968071 PMCID: PMC11169973 DOI: 10.3399/bjgpo.2023.0133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies have found that women with gynaecological conditions and symptoms do not feel listened to by primary care clinicians (PCCs). Less understood is whether PCCs perceive that there are challenges around listening to and interacting with this patient group. AIM To understand PCCs' perspectives on the challenges of listening to and interacting with women patients with gynaecological conditions and symptoms. DESIGN & SETTING Systematic review of English-language studies. METHOD We searched ASSIA (Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts), CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Embase, HMIC (Healthcare Management Information Consortium), and MEDLINE from inception to July 2023. We also conducted forward and backward citation searches of included studies. Identified records were screened independently by two reviewers. Data extraction was undertaken by one reviewer and checked by a second. Quality appraisal used the Wallace checklist. 'Best-fit' framework synthesis was used to synthesise findings around themes that explored the challenges of patient-clinician interaction. RESULTS We identified 25 relevant articles. Perceived challenges associated with listening to and interacting with patients with gynaecological conditions and symptoms were identified at four 'levels': individual clinician level factors; structural and organisational factors; community and external factors; and factors related to gynaecological conditions. Interpretive analysis identified specific challenges relating to sociocultural factors affecting the consultation experience; the need for further education, training, or guidance for clinicians; factors affecting referral decisions; and factors related to service structure and organisation. CONCLUSION PCCs acknowledge that empathy, respect, and attentive listening are important when interacting with women patients with gynaecological conditions and symptoms. However, these ideals are impeded by several factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Briscoe
- Exeter PRP Evidence Review Facility, University of Exeter Medical School, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, UK
| | - Jo Thompson Coon
- Exeter PRP Evidence Review Facility, University of Exeter Medical School, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, UK
| | - G J Melendez-Torres
- Exeter PRP Evidence Review Facility, University of Exeter Medical School, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, UK
| | - Rebecca Abbott
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula, University of Exeter Medical School, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, UK
| | - Liz Shaw
- Exeter PRP Evidence Review Facility, University of Exeter Medical School, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, UK
| | - Michael Nunns
- Exeter PRP Evidence Review Facility, University of Exeter Medical School, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, UK
| | - Ruth Garside
- Exeter PRP Evidence Review Facility, University of Exeter Medical School, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, UK
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8
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Sturgeon JA, Cooley C, Minhas D. Practical approaches for clinicians in chronic pain management: Strategies and solutions. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2024:101934. [PMID: 38341332 DOI: 10.1016/j.berh.2024.101934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Effective management of chronic pain necessitates multidisciplinary approaches including medical treatment, physical therapy, lifestyle interventions, and behavioral or mental health therapy. Medical providers regularly report high levels of stress and challenge when treating patients with chronic pain, which recur in part due to improper education on contributors to pain and misalignment in patient and provider goals and expectations for treatment. The current paper reviews common challenges and misconceptions in the setting of chronic pain management as well as strategies for effective patient education and goal setting related to these issues. The paper also outlines key aspects of provider burnout, its relevance for medical providers in chronic pain management, and recommendations for burnout prevention in navigating issues of patient education and treatment planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Sturgeon
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Corinne Cooley
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Pain Management and Rehabilitation Services, Stanford Health Care, Redwood City, CA, USA.
| | - Deeba Minhas
- Department of Rheumatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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9
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Gunning JN, Romann LR, Hintz EA. Framing Chronic Pain in U.S. News Coverage of the Opioid Epidemic (2012-2022). HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024:1-12. [PMID: 38214153 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2024.2304494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Chronic pain, pain persisting longer than six months, afflicts 20% of the U.S. population and is the leading cause of disability. To manage pain, many chronic pain patients (CPPs) and healthcare providers turn to opioids, prescription medications that block pain signals and offer relief. However, in light of the U.S.' ongoing opioid epidemic, CPPs without a history of opioid use disorder (OUD) are facing increased stigma when seeking opioid medication. Further, many have been forced to taper their therapeutic dose due to updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention prescribing guidelines in 2016 and 2022, with a range of (adverse) outcomes. Though research has explored experiences of chronic pain and OUD independently, few studies have explored how media coverage of the opioid epidemic has shaped representations, and resulting stereotypes, of CPPs. Guided by framing theory, this content analysis examines sources' characterization of CPPs amidst a decade of U.S. news coverage of the opioid epidemic (N = 492). Findings identify four dominant news frames, including two novel frames termed culpability and strategy, and elements (i.e., characters, significant events) that comprise these frames. When discussed, CPPs were ascribed the identity of a drug-seeking addict 82% of the time. Collectively, this study provides insight as to how news media coverage of the opioid epidemic influence(d) public perceptions of chronic pain (patients). Findings offer theoretical and practical implications for media outlets, policymakers, CPPs and healthcare providers, as well as highlighting how use of opioids for pain management does not equate to abuse of opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lili R Romann
- Department of Communication, University of Connecticut
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10
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Chaitoff A, Choudhry NK, Haff N, Lauffenburger JC. Gabapentinoid Use by Self-Reported Indication and Level of Evidence. J Gen Intern Med 2024; 39:156-158. [PMID: 37794261 PMCID: PMC10817864 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-023-08418-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Chaitoff
- Center for Healthcare Delivery Sciences, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Niteesh K Choudhry
- Center for Healthcare Delivery Sciences, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nancy Haff
- Center for Healthcare Delivery Sciences, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julie C Lauffenburger
- Center for Healthcare Delivery Sciences, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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11
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Thompson CM, Babu S, Makos S. Women's Experiences of Health-Related Communicative Disenfranchisement. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2023; 38:3135-3146. [PMID: 36281957 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2022.2137772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Women's inequitable healthcare experiences are epistemic injustices by which women are discredited and harmed in their position as knowers of their health and their bodies. Drawing on the theory of communicative disenfranchisement (TCD), we sought to amplify voices of women experiencing communicative disenfranchisement (CD) and to unify their stories according to theoretical premises, namely, attention to power, material conditions, discourse, identities and relationships, and process. We interviewed 36 women living in the United States whose health issues have not been taken seriously by health care providers, friends, and family - pervasive sources of disenfranchising talk surrounding health. Mapping onto the TCD framework, our findings explicate the process of CD, including the material and immaterial consequences of disenfranchising talk and women's responses to such talk. CD unfolded as a protracted and often circular process of women seeking care but encountering health dismissals and minimalizations, blaming and shaming, normalizing of their pain, and psychologizing. We unpack how disenfranchising talk rendered women crazy and dehumanized them and inflicted shame and loss. Women responded to disenfranchising talk with silence, and they (re)claimed their voice by resisting psychogenic explanations for their problems, critiquing women's healthcare, asserting their needs, and advocating for others. We discuss the implications of this research for theory and praxis.
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12
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Hintz EA, Tucker RV, Wilson SR. Developing Measures for and Testing the Theory of Communicative Disenfranchisement (TCD) in the Context of Chronic Pain. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2023:1-14. [PMID: 37927211 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2275916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
The post-positivist articulation of the theory of communicative disenfranchisement (TCD) asserts that people subjected to disenfranchising talk (DT; talk that discredits, silences, and stereotypes) experience proximal consequences (PCs; reduced agency, perceived credibility, and ability to exercise rights and privileges) and make negative inferences about others' future interactional goals (negative goal inferences [NGIs]). Through the mediators of PCs and NGIs, DT is theorized to lead to more distal health and well-being outcomes. This article developed measures of DT, PCs, and NGIs to test the TCD's post-positivist model in the context of chronic pain. Items were developed and refined in a pilot study. Then, in two validation studies, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted and health and well-being outcomes were assessed. Findings offer initial empirical support for the reliability and convergent, divergent, and predictive validity of the DT, PCs, and NGIs measures, as well as the model proposed in the post-positivist articulation of the TCD.
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13
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Melander S. Different logics of pain: the gendered dimension of chronic pain in a relational setting. Soc Sci Med 2023; 335:116229. [PMID: 37703783 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to increase our understanding of the gendered dimension of living with chronic pain within a relational context. The empirical setting for this study is Sweden, a country widely recognised for its long history of gender equality. Interview responses from 21 women and 12 men were analysed using the feminist notion of the marriage contract, outlining the terms for women and men living together in a relationship. The result shows how living with chronic pain leads to processes of grief and altered priorities. Respondents emphasize the importance of equality. However, men and women apply different logics when deciding which tasks to prioritise. Although there is no distinct pattern regarding whether or not couples share housework equally, the allocation of responsibilities appears to follow a particular pattern: men tend to prioritise their rehabilitation to become good fathers, women are grateful and prioritise the family before her own well-being. The study indicates that while attitudes and the allocation of household chores may have changed in the past few decades, the marriage contract still restricts women from employment and rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stina Melander
- Department of Political Science, Lund University, Sweden.
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14
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Gunning JN, Taladay-Carter C. Grieving "The Death of Possibility": Memorable Messages of (Dis)Enfranchised Loss in Invisible, Physical Illness. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2023:1-11. [PMID: 37724351 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2257942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Guided by theories of communicative disenfranchisement (TCD) and memorable messages (ToMM), this study analyzes 60 open-ended survey responses detailing experiences of grief following the onset of invisible, physical illness (e.g., chronic overlapping pain conditions, autoimmune rheumatic diseases). Employing reflexive thematic analysis, we identify (1) illness-related losses that are disenfranchised by discourses surrounding grief and (2) opportunities to enfranchise these losses via memorable messages. Situated at two points in time, before and after the onset of illness, we identify disenfranchised losses as what once was (e.g., physical [in]dependence, relational connection, images of self, and trust in institutions) and what will never be (e.g., family planning and career dreams). Next, we identify opportunities to disrupt this disenfranchisement through memorable messages of presence (e.g., nonverbal acknowledgment and verbal expressions of belief) and finding the fit (e.g., physical restructuring and community connection). In doing so, we extend theoretical understanding of both memorable messages, in the form that they can take (of experience) and as points of (dis)enfranchisement, and communicative (dis)enfranchisement. This study contributes to a growing body of health communication research on disenfranchising experiences in chronic illness by highlighting a resulting experience of illness not often talked about - illness-related loss and its grief process. Theoretical and practical implications, as well as limitations and future directions, are discussed.
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15
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Sebring JCH, Kelly C, McPhail D, Woodgate RL. Medical invalidation in the clinical encounter: a qualitative study of the health care experiences of young women and nonbinary people living with chronic illnesses. CMAJ Open 2023; 11:E915-E921. [PMID: 37816547 PMCID: PMC10569812 DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20220212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medical invalidation is a well-documented phenomenon in the literature on chronic illnesses, yet there is a paucity of research capturing the perspectives of young adults living with chronic illnesses, and especially of those who are gender diverse or from groups that face broader societal marginalization. Our study sought to answer the following question: How do young women and nonbinary adults living with chronic illnesses characterize their experiences of medical invalidation and its impact on their health and well-being? METHODS This was a patient-oriented qualitative study informed by feminist disability theory. Eligibility requirements included self-identifying as having a chronic illness, self-identifying as a woman or nonbinary person receiving health care in Manitoba, and being between the ages of 18 and 35 years. Participants took part in online arts-based workshops and subsequent focus group discussion in November 2021. RESULTS Eight women and 2 nonbinary individuals participated. Medical invalidation was experienced by all of the participants at different points in their illness journeys and took a variety of forms depending on their social location and their particular illness, positioning invalidation as an issue of in/visibility. We identified several consequences of medical invalidation, including internalizing invalidation, overcompensating for their illness, avoiding care and, ultimately, symptom intensification. We also present participants' recommendations to avoid medical invalidation. INTERPRETATION This study provides insight into the phenomenon of medical invalidation, understood as the act of dismissing, minimizing or otherwise not taking patient concerns seriously. We suggest person-centred care may not be enough, and critical reflexivity may help avoid unintentionally invalidating patient experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer C H Sebring
- Department of Community Health Sciences (Sebring, Kelly, McPhail), Max Rady College of Medicine, and College of Nursing (Woodgate), Helen Glass Centre for Nursing, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.
| | - Christine Kelly
- Department of Community Health Sciences (Sebring, Kelly, McPhail), Max Rady College of Medicine, and College of Nursing (Woodgate), Helen Glass Centre for Nursing, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man
| | - Deborah McPhail
- Department of Community Health Sciences (Sebring, Kelly, McPhail), Max Rady College of Medicine, and College of Nursing (Woodgate), Helen Glass Centre for Nursing, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man
| | - Roberta L Woodgate
- Department of Community Health Sciences (Sebring, Kelly, McPhail), Max Rady College of Medicine, and College of Nursing (Woodgate), Helen Glass Centre for Nursing, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man
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Kharko A, Hägglund M. Nocebo effects from clinical notes: reason for action, not opposition for clinicians of patients with medically unexplained symptoms. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS 2022; 49:jme-2022-108795. [PMID: 36600610 DOI: 10.1136/jme-2022-108795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kharko
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Maria Hägglund
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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