Multiple perspectives on symptom interpretation in primary care research

BMC Family Practice

Debate

Anette Fischer Pedersen¹  Rikke Sand Andersen¹  Marianne Rosendal¹  Dorte Ejg Jarbøl² 

[1] Research Unit for General Practice, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Bartholins Alle 2, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark;Research Unit of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9 A, DK-5000, Odense, Denmark;

关键词: Symptom research;    Signs and symptoms;    Symptom assessment;    Interdisciplinary studies;    General practice;    Medicine;    Psychology;    Anthropology;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2296-14-167

 received in 2013-03-12, accepted in 2013-10-16,  发布年份 2013

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundAssessment and management of symptoms is a main task in primary care. Symptoms may be defined as 'any subjective evidence of a health problem as perceived by the patient’. In other words, symptoms do not appear as such; symptoms are rather the result of an interpretation process. We aim to discuss different perspectives on symptom interpretation as presented in the disciplines of biomedicine, psychology and anthropology and the possible implications for our understanding of research on symptoms in relation to prevalence and diagnosis in the general population and in primary care.DiscussionSymptom experiences are embedded in a complex interplay between biological, psychological and cultural factors. From a biomedical perspective, symptoms are seen as possible indicators of disease and are characterized by parameters related to seriousness (e.g. appearance, severity, impact and temporal aspects). However, such symptom characteristics are rarely unambiguous, but merely indicate disease probability. In addition, the GP’s interpretation of presenting symptoms will also be influenced by other factors. From a psychological perspective, factors affecting interpretation are in focus (e.g. internal frame of reference, attention to sensations, illness perception and susceptibility to suggestion). These individual factors cannot stand alone either, but are influenced by the surroundings. Anthropological research suggests that personal experiences and culture form a continuous feedback relationship which influence when and how sensations are understood as symptoms of disease and acted upon.SummaryThe different approaches to symptom interpretation imply that we need to be cautious and conscious when interpreting survey findings that are based on symptom prevalence in the general population or in primary care. These findings will reflect a variety of interpretations of sensations, which are not equivalent to expressions of underlying disease. Furthermore, if diagnosis of disease is based exclusively on the presence of specific symptom characteristics, we may risk reinforcing a dualistic approach, including medicalisation of normal phenomena and devaluation of medically unexplained symptoms. Future research in primary care could gain from exploring symptoms as a generic phenomenon and raised awareness of symptom complexity.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Rosendal et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2013