Epistemic injustice in the healthcare system
How patients’ knowledge is marginalized in doctor-patient interaction
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19230868 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Christopher Ikechukwu Asogwa (0000-0002-0040-0210, University of Nigeria), Michael Chugozie Anyaehie (0000-0001-8720-5292, University of Nigeria), Margaret Offoboche Agada-Mba (Pan-Atlantic University), John Oluwaseyi Jemisenia (University of Nigeria, Nsukka, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-18 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-25 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Applied Communication Research (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0090-9882 • E-ISSN: 1479-5752 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/00909882.2026.2676036 |
| OpenAlex | W7162323852 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 42 |
This qualitative study investigated the manifestation of epistemic injustice within Nigeria’s healthcare system, examining how patient knowledge was systematically marginalized in clinical interactions. Grounded in the Culture-Centered Approach (CCA) and Fricker’s epistemic injustice framework, the research employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of interviews with 20 patients and 7 healthcare professionals in Enugu State. Findings revealed that testimonial injustice occurred as patients’ credibility was unfairly dismissed due to linguistic bias and a system-wide over-reliance on diagnostic tests. Hermeneutical injustice arose from colonial legacies that delegitimized indigenous knowledge, leaving patients unable to make their experiences understood. The study also identified ‘epistemic double marginalization,’ where providers faced a reciprocal discrediting of their authority by communities preferring traditional knowledge. Redressing these injustices requires decolonizing institutional norms and integrating epistemic pluralism for equitable care
Economic Justice · Health care · Health equity · Injustice · MEDLINE · Educational Strategies and Epistemologies · Feminist Epistemology and Gender Studies · Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
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| Highly cited | No |
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