Understanding the Patient's Story

Question 1

State the two systems of health knowledge

Answer 1

1. Scientific Medicine

2. Everyday Medicine (Lay / Popular)

Question 2

What is the advantage and disadvantage of patients using “lay-diagnosis” methods?

Answer 2

Advantage: Reduces pressure on GPs, reduces cost

Disadvantage: Can delay diagnosis and treatment

Question 3

Describe the “symptom iceberg” phenomenon

Answer 3

The phenomenon that most symptoms are managed in the community without people seeking professional health care

Question 4

Define “culture”

Answer 4

The deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, meanings, possessions etc acquired by a group of people

Question 5

What is CAMs?

Answer 5

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Question 6

State five negative reasons as to why people may turn to CAMs

Answer 6

1. Dissatisfaction with conventional health care waiting list; adverse effects
2. Poor doctor-patient relationship
3. Rejection of conventional science
4. Rejection of establishment
5. Sheer desperation

Question 7

State 7 positive reasons as to why people may turn to CAMs

Answer 7

1. Perceived effectiveness and well-being
2. More “hollistic”
3. Increased control over treatment
4. “High touch, low technology”
5. Emphasis on patient-therapist relationship
6. Non-invasive
7. Accessible

Question 8

State two professional bodies which regulate CAMs

Answer 8

General Chiropractic Council

General Osteopathic Council

Question 9

State 5 consequences of poor doctor-patient communication

Answer 9

1. Inaccurate diagnosis
2. Less recognition of patients’ ideas, concerns, expectations
3. Non-adherence with care or treatment regimes
4. Decreased patient satisfaction
5. More complaints with NHS

Question 10

Define “medicalisation”?

Answer 10

The process of defining an increasing number of life’s problems as medical problems