Distributed decision making: the anatomy of decisions-in-action

Sociology of Health & Illness
Tim Rapley

Abstract

Conceptualising the doctor-patient relationship has been a central project for both medicine and medical sociology. This paper seeks to show how an understanding of the distributed nature of medical practice can help us research the decision-making process in doctor-patient encounters. I draw on a range of empirical studies of medical interaction, knowledge, technology and work in primary and secondary care. I describe the 'ethno-methods' (Garfinkel 1967) of patient-orientated medical decision making in order to highlight some of the fundamental facets of distributed decision making. Initially, I outline how decision making is an ongoing event that often evolves over multiple encounters. I then show how decision making is never just a solo, cognitive activity but rather distributed over a range of people. Finally, I outline how decision making is initiated, sustained and transformed over a range of encounters with both people and technologies. I argue that recognising the distributed nature of decision making shifts the focus from overly prescriptive visions of decision making to more plausible, albeit, more mundane sets of ideals. Centrally, a focus on distribution offers new opportunities actively to engage with, support and ...Continue Reading

References

Sep 11, 1995·The Journal of Comparative Neurology·J B Hutchins
Jun 13, 1998·European Journal of Endocrinology·J P Berg
Oct 9, 1998·The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy·M Berg, B Arnetz
Jun 10, 1982·Sociology of Health & Illness·M Bury
Oct 8, 1982·Sociology of Health & Illness·A StraussC Wiener
Sep 17, 1999·BMJ : British Medical Journal·C CharlesA Gafni
Apr 21, 2001·Social Science & Medicine·M L Crossley, N Crossley
Jun 8, 2002·BMJ : British Medical Journal·R Brian HaynesGordon H Guyatt
May 1, 1956·A.M.A. Archives of Internal Medicine·T S SZASZ, M H HOLLENDER
May 24, 2005·Medicine, Health Care, and Philosophy·Rita M Struhkamp
Aug 19, 2005·Family Practice·M CalnanC Watkins
Nov 18, 2005·Social Science & Medicine·Tim RapleyRichard Thomson
Jan 24, 2006·Social Science & Medicine·Tiago Moreira
Jan 27, 2006·Health Expectations : an International Journal of Public Participation in Health Care and Health Policy·Victor M MontoriCathy Charles
May 27, 2006·Social Science & Medicine·Joakim OhlénAlison S A Brazier
Jul 4, 2006·Social Science & Medicine·Tim RapleyEileen Frances Kaner

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 25, 2013·Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·Mary Ann O'BrienPeter Lovrics
Oct 19, 2012·The Psychiatric Quarterly·Marianne Storm, Adrian Edwards
May 24, 2012·Journal of General Internal Medicine·Glyn ElwynMichael Barry
Jul 19, 2013·The American Journal of Bioethics : AJOB·Susan Hrisos, Richard G Thomson
Jun 7, 2008·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Glyn Elwyn
Mar 9, 2012·BMC Health Services Research·Catherine ExleyJimmy G Steele
Sep 14, 2011·Annals of Family Medicine·Ronald M Epstein, Richard L Street
Apr 24, 2012·The British Journal of General Practice : the Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners·Tom BlakemanAnne Kennedy
Sep 2, 2014·Patient Education and Counseling·Glyn ElwynRonald Epstein
Mar 31, 2012·Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research·Richard L StreetRonald M Epstein
Jan 28, 2012·Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research·Jennifer Wong, Ewa Szumacher
Oct 6, 2015·American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·Joanna L HartScott D Halpern
Jul 13, 2012·Patient Education and Counseling·Marla L ClaymanAdam R Williams
Jul 16, 2011·Patient Education and Counseling·Erika Leemann PriceClarence Henry Braddock
Jun 28, 2008·Nursing Philosophy : an International Journal for Healthcare Professionals·Derek Sellman
Jul 7, 2011·Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness·Christine HolmbergWorta McCaskill-Stevens
Nov 9, 2010·Sociology of Health & Illness·Olga V BoikoBarry J Gibson
Apr 19, 2012·Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica·P R Falzer, D M Garman
Jun 19, 2013·Health Expectations : an International Journal of Public Participation in Health Care and Health Policy·Michelle EdwardsAdrian Edwards
May 20, 2011·Health Expectations : an International Journal of Public Participation in Health Care and Health Policy·Alan Cribb, Vikki A Entwistle
Apr 26, 2013·Health Expectations : an International Journal of Public Participation in Health Care and Health Policy·Kathryn EhrichJane Sandall
Oct 12, 2013·Sociology of Health & Illness·Dawn Goodwin
Oct 11, 2014·Internal Medicine Journal·K Robins-BrowneP Komesaroff
Mar 24, 2016·BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth·Claire Feeley, Gill Thomson
Aug 12, 2015·Health Expectations : an International Journal of Public Participation in Health Care and Health Policy·Nicola MorantShulamit Ramon
May 20, 2014·Emergency Medicine Journal : EMJ·M L S LieR G Thomson
Aug 14, 2012·Patient Education and Counseling·Ronald Mark Epstein
May 15, 2016·Social Science & Medicine·Lauren Diamond-Brown
Apr 8, 2016·Medical Decision Making : an International Journal of the Society for Medical Decision Making·Louise L BerylDominick L Frosch
Apr 21, 2017·Sociology of Health & Illness·Lars E F Johannessen
Nov 20, 2016·Sociology of Health & Illness·Louisa Polak
Apr 9, 2015·Qualitative Health Research·Louisa Polak, Judith Green

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Health Expectations : an International Journal of Public Participation in Health Care and Health Policy
Victor M MontoriCathy A Charles
JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association
C H BraddockW Levinson
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved