作者
MGT Fernando, RPJC Ramanayake, Shehan Williams
简介
Patients' heath beliefs and behavior affect all aspects of their illness and the medical consultation process and its outcome [1, 2]. However, little information is available about the beliefs of patients when they consult their general practitioner (GP)[3]. Identification of patients‟ ideas, concerns and expectations (ICE) helps to carry out a successful consultation that reveals patients‟ beliefs as well [4]. Exploration of ICE about diagnosis and/or treatment, is part of „gathering information‟ and it exemplifies the patient centered approach.
Primary care physicians are expected to provide comprehensive and continuing care for patients with any undiagnosed sign, symptom, or health concern (the" undifferentiated" patient) not limited by problem origin (biological, behavioural, or social), organ system, or diagnosis. A primary care practice serves as the patient's first point of entry into the health care system and as the continuing focal point for all needed health care services. In an increasingly diverse society, one of the many challenges that confront primary care physicians is to understand the association between health beliefs and health related behaviours during consultations. This is particularly significant since beliefs about the cause of illness appear to be important determinants of health related behaviours (self care, illness perception and health seeking)[5]. Prehistoric societies, believed in both natural and supernatural means in the causation and treatment of diseases [6-8]. For serious or disabling diseases, for which there was no rational cause, blame was placed on the gods, evil spirits and sorcery. It was believed that evil spirits, conjured by a …
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