“It’s my body, my future”: Older women’s views of their interactions with physicians

ABSTRACT

Based on data obtained from in-depth, qualitative interviews conducted with 30 older Canadian women, this article examines older women’s experiences with, and views of, physicians. The research participants report a very high level of satisfaction with the patient–physician relationship; however, they also report physician shortcomings. Findings indicate that participants’ satisfaction with the patient–physician relationship was influenced by “stories about other doctors,” rationalizations and justifications, and a high level of patient assertiveness.

KEYWORDS:

• Justifications and rationalizations
• older women
• patient assertiveness
• patient–physician relationship
• physicians
• symbolic interaction

Note

All names are pseudonyms.

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their very helpful comments and the women who participated in the study.

Funding

The research reported in this article was funded by an internal grant from Mount Saint Vincent University.

Additional information

Funding

The research reported in this article was funded by an internal grant from Mount Saint Vincent University.