Narratives In Medicine: The Story Behind The Science Could Help The Public
Friday, November 11, 2011 - 04:31
in Psychology & Sociology
Anecdotes are not data, the saying goes, but people sure believe them. An article in JAMA says doctors should consider the use of narrative, patient stories and testimonials, to boost public acceptance of health issues such as cancer screenings and vaccination mandates. They advocate "counternarratives" to neutralize personal stories, think celebrities in the news media sharing their health knowledge, that seek to support quackery like homeopathy and anti-vaccine beliefs, along with narratives about the process of scientific study and discovery, to unmask the often hidden work of researchers and guidelines committees. read more