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Routinization and Sensitivity: Interaction in Oncological Follow-Up Consultations

Linköping University, Swedensanden{at}alfa.telenordia.se

Per Linell

Hans Starkhammar

Linköping University, Sweden

Ullabeth Sätterlund Larsson

Trollhättan/Uddevalla University, Sweden

The empirical data of this study were gathered in the form of audio-taped recordings of dialogues between 21 patients, who had had operations for testicular cancer and three physicians during follow-up consultations. The aim is to inquire into how routine practices affect the goals of checking up the medical conditions and providing patients with reassurance, and how practices affect the treatment of sensitive topics and the patients’ possibilities of bringing up their own problems are affected. The results show that the routines built up by the medical care programme are used as recurrent opportunities for the parties to confirm that the situation is under control and as resources when they talk about the sensitive topics of sexuality and fertility. How the routinization affected the patients’ possibilities of bringing up their own problems cannot be fully determined. Of the 50 initiatives by patients to present their problems, only nine did so solely on their own initiative.

Key Words: doctor–patient interaction • oncological • routinization • sensitivity

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