Diagnosis and the practices of patienthood

How diagnostic journeys shape illness experiences

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2250207
AutoresM Jeske (0000-0003-0743-5974, Institute on the Formation of Knowledge University of Chicago Chicago Illinois USA, autor de correspondencia), Jennifer E James (0000-0001-6240-3487, Institute on Aging), Jennifer James (0000-0001-9585-8760, Institute on Health and Aging University of California, San Francisco San Francisco California USA), Kelly Joyce (0000-0002-2822-1548, Department of Sociology Drexel University Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA)
Año2024
Volumen46
NúmeroS1
Páginas225-241
Fecha de publicación2024-03-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaSociology of Health & Illness (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0141-9889 • E-ISSN: 1467-9566
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/1467-9566.13614
PMID36707922
OpenAlexW4318317849
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas17
Referencias citadas65

Sociologists have a rich history of studying the process of diagnosis and how people experience illness. Yet, the sociology of diagnosis and illness experience literatures have seldom been fully integrated. Instead, these literatures highlight one element of the illness journey, wherein scholars either primarily study diagnostic processes and categories or people's illness experiences. Drawing on empirical studies that examine diagnosis and experiences of illness in varied settings (diagnosis during breast cancer surveillance, diagnosis and experience of autoimmune illness and incarcerated women's experiences of diagnoses and illness), in this article we build on our concept of regimes of patienthood to explain how diagnostic journeys, and the relations and power dynamics that manifest during this time, shape the illness experience and practices of patienthood. We construct a classification of diagnostic processes grounded in our empirical research that span (1) sudden diagnoses, (2) long, changing diagnostic journeys and (3) diagnostic journeys marked by disbelief and denial of care. Our findings demonstrate how diagnostic journeys and illness experiences are intertwined, with different diagnostic pathways impacting how illness is experienced. Analysing these categories collectively demonstrates that diagnostic journeys, while heterogenous, shape the practices that patients develop to manage health conditions and navigate unequal health-care encounters

Empathy and Medical Education · Medicine · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Mental Health and Psychiatry · Psychology