Value identification in narrative discourse: Evaluation of an HIV education demonstration project

Abstract

An analysis of values in patient and resident physician narratives, before and after an ethics education project in a VA internal medicine residency, showed physician values more like patient values and patient portrayals of physicians positive rather than negative, after as opposed to before the intervention. After, physicians described patients as individuals rather than through stereotypes as before, but retained concern for prevention and the difficulty of giving care. The combination of morning report presentations, case conferences and ethics rounds, all focused on HIV disease and patients, brought positive changes in the physician / HIV patient relationship.