Applying Critical Theory to Disrupt Deficit Perspectives in Patient Communication and Health Literacy: “10 Minutes to Better Patient Communication” Podcast Series

Abstract

There is increased awareness that health-related institutions, organizational and disciplinary policies and practices, and individual professionals have a role in creating or maintaining health inequalities. Critical theories may be especially helpful at this time, as their purpose is to critique and transform inequitable and unjust norms, systems, and practices. This paper shares examples from the podcast series “10 Minutes to Better Patient Communication,” when critical frameworks from language and literacy are used to identify and interrupt deficit perspectives on individuals and groups, showing how deficit perspectives can hide in words, phrases, and discourses used in patient communication and health literacy.

Keywords:

• Critical theory
• critical theories of language
• critical theories of literacy
• critical health stance
• deficit perspective
• health communication
• health literacy
• patient communication
• podcast

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anne Marie Liebel

Anne Marie Liebel, EdD is President of Health Communication Partners LLC and administrator of h-cpartners.com, a site dedicated to equity-oriented health communication, health literacy, and patient education resources for medicine and public health. She is writer and host of ‘10 Minutes to Better Patient Communication’ podcast series.