Towards a Sociology of Disclosure

The Case of Surgical Performance

Bibliographic Data

ID12912904
AuthorsJonathan Gabe (0000-0002-3765-4935, Royal Holloway University of London, corresponding author), Mark Exworthy (0000-0003-4791-7513, Royal Holloway University of London), Ian Rees Jones (0000-0002-1682-9134, Royal Holloway University of London), Glenn Smith (0000-0003-2426-1013, Royal Holloway University of London)
Year2012
Volume6
Issue11
Pages908-922
Publication date2012-10-23
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociology Compass (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1751-9020 • E-ISSN: 1751-9020
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1751-9020.2012.00490.x
OpenAlexW2151916433
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited63

Despite the increasingly widespread emphasis on the need for transparency in health‐care and elsewhere, there is limited evidence regarding the consequences of disclosing medical performance data. The evidence is disparate and has not been synthesised in a coherent way. This paper focuses on surgical performance, whose measurement is generally often seen as straight forward. It begins by outlining the context for understanding the publication of such data and then presents an analytical framework as a vehicle for conceptualising the nature of disclosure in surgery and health‐care more generally. The framework addresses key dimensions concerning one surgical specialty (cardiac surgery) and its relationship with a range of stakeholders in an English context. In particular, we examine the interaction between surgeons and between surgeons, patients, managers and policy‐makers. These relationships are framed in terms of choice and calculativeness, strategies and tactics, and trust, and need to be understood at micro, meso and macro levels. We conclude by considering how this framework provides a research agenda for a sociology of disclosure

Context (archaeology · Health care · Political science · Public relations · Sociology · Specialty · Transparency (behavior · Healthcare Policy and Management · Healthcare Quality and Management · Law · Medical Malpractice and Liability Issues · Psychology