‘I must do everything to eliminate my negative attitude’

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to explore Polish general practitioners’ (GPs) language of emotions used with regard to patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). Specifically, the study focuses on the linguistic expressions and discursive strategies drawn upon in the communication of emotions and value judgments towards this group of patients. This study is part of the larger research project on challenges Polish GPs face while dealing with patients with MUS (cf. Czachowski et al. 2011). The investigation of 4 focus groups revealed, inter alia, that the doctors frequently use labels and metaphors, such as maruda [‘whinger’] or święta krowa [‘sacred cow’] to refer to and evaluate these patients. Such expressions communicate doctors’ negative emotions. These emotions influenced the doctors’ behaviour during the consultation: the doctors admitted to referring patients with MUS to secondary care or shortening the visit.

‘I didn’t want to be Psycho no. 1’: Identity struggles in narratives of patients presenting medically unexplained symptoms

“…The patient presupposes that people would negatively label her as ‘psycho’. Previous studies have corroborated the stigmatization of symptoms that have a mental origin and the GPs’ negative attitude towards MUS patients (Czachowski et al, 2011; Freidl et al, 2007; Sowińska, 2014; Stone, 2014)…”

“…In Poland, where family medicine is relatively new, there are no guidelines for management of patients with MUS, and Polish GPs are not always responsive to the patients’ needs for reassurance and empathy (cf. Czachowski et al, 2011; Sowińska, 2014, 2017)…”

“They say it’s because I’m migrainous. . .” Contested identities of students with invisible disabilities in medical consultations

“…Kleinman, 1988). Multiple studies have corroborated the stigmatization of symptoms that are invisible, such as those of a mental origin (Czachowski et al, 2012; Sowińska, 2014; Stone, 2014). Furthermore, patients are often burdened with the responsibility for the health management of their chronic condition (Walton and Lazzaro-Salazar, 2016).…”