Serious Illness Conversations With Doctors: Patients Using Information Obtained From Sources Other Than Their Doctors

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine how people with serious illnesses communicate information they have acquired about their illness from the Internet and social or mass media to their doctors. Twenty-two in-depth interviews of patients with serious or life-threatening illnesses were conducted and analyzed. Street’s ecological perspective of communication was used to understand the processes that influence when and how patients bring information that they obtained from external sources to their doctors. The reactions patients received from their doctors affected their future communication with them. Results indicate doctors who have a dominant communication style often discourage patients from bringing outside information to them, and in some cases this results in patients changing doctors. On the other hand, doctors who are more attentive make patients feel more comfortable about bringing outside information to them, and this leads to more meaningful and beneficial conversations.

Acknowledgment

This article is based on the first author’s dissertation, directed by Dr. William J. Seiler at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.