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Uncertainty is believed to be a central feature in illness experiences. Conversations between a consultant hematologist and 61 seriously ill patients were transcribed, entered on a database and scrutinized for patterns of language uncertainty by linguistic concordancing analysis. Transcripts were then discussed in detail with the hematologist, and techniques of protocol analysis were used to gain insight into his thought processes during consultations. The main findings were that the doctor used many more expressions of uncertainty than did patients: that evaluative terms were widely used to reassure rather than to worry patients; and that patients and doctor together used certain key terms ambiguously, in a manner which allowed the doctor to feel that facts were not misrepresented while perhaps permitting the patient to feel reassured.

Original publication

DOI

10.1177/014107689909201204

Type

Journal article

Journal

J R Soc Med

Publication Date

12/1999

Volume

92

Pages

620 - 625

Keywords

Hematologic Diseases, Hematologic Neoplasms, Humans, Language, Physician-Patient Relations, Tape Recording, Truth Disclosure