Journal
PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING
Volume 56, Issue 2, Pages 205-210Publisher
ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2004.02.010
Keywords
medically unexplained symptoms; undiagnosed illness; illness narratives; neurology
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This paper reports on a qualitative study, which explores the narratives of patients. who live with medically unexplained Symptoms (MUS) and who have not secured a diagnostic label. Interviews were undertaken with IS participants (5 men and 13 women) who attended a neurology outpatients department in the UK. Three features of the patients' narratives identified are: the 'chaotic' structure of their illness narratives; concern that symptoms may be 'all in the mind'; and their status as 'medical orphans'. All the patients acknowledge that diagnosis is difficult and accept that a medical explanation will invariably be possible. However. they are more. concerned to secure some form of ongoing medical and social support. An understanding of both the structure as well as the content of patients' narratives of undiagnosed illness may contribute to the development of more effective and sensitive patient centred care. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available