Defining infertility: a qualitative interview study of patients and physicians.

IF 2.1 4区 心理学 Q2 PSYCHOLOGY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY
K M Summers, A Scherer, E E Chasco, G L Ryan
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate if infertility patients and physicians apply a traditional biomedical model of disease in their conceptualisation of infertility, examine any contradictions and conflicts in conceptualisations, and examine areas of concordance and discordance between physicians and patients.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 infertility patients and 18 infertility physicians between September 2010 and April 2012. Interviews were analysed qualitatively to determine physician and patient conceptualisations of infertility, reactions to the definition of infertility as a disease, and potential benefits and concerns related to application of a disease label to the condition.

Results: Most physicians (n = 14/18) and a minority of patients (n = 6/20) were supportive of defining infertility as a disease. Many of the patients who agreed with classifying infertility as a disease expressed that they had not personally defined it as such previously. Physicians (n = 14) and patients (n = 13) described potential benefits of a disease label, including increases in research funding, insurance coverage, and social acceptability. Some patients (n = 10) described potential stigma as a negative consequence. When describing appraisals of infertility, both physicians (n = 7) and patients (n = 8) invoked religious/spiritual concepts. The potential for religious/spiritual appraisal to contribute to stigmatising or de-stigmatising infertility was discussed.

Conclusion: Our findings contradict the assumption that infertility physicians and patients are fully supportive of defining infertility as a disease. While potential benefits of the disease label were recognised by both groups, caution against potential for stigmatisation and unsolicited invocation of religion/spirituality suggest a more holistic model may be appropriate.

不孕症的定义:对患者和医生的定性访谈研究。
目的:调查不孕不育患者和医生在对不孕不育进行概念化时是否采用了传统的生物医学疾病模式,研究概念化中的矛盾和冲突,以及医生和患者之间的一致和不一致之处:方法:2010 年 9 月至 2012 年 4 月期间,对 20 名不孕症患者和 18 名不孕症医生进行了半结构式访谈。对访谈内容进行了定性分析,以确定医生和患者对不孕症的概念、对将不孕症定义为疾病的反应,以及将疾病标签应用于不孕症的潜在益处和担忧:大多数医生(14/18)和少数患者(6/20)支持将不孕症定义为一种疾病。许多同意将不孕症归为疾病的患者表示,他们个人以前并未将不孕症定义为疾病。医生(14 人)和患者(13 人)描述了疾病标签的潜在好处,包括增加研究经费、保险覆盖面和社会接受度。一些患者(10 人)将潜在的污名化描述为负面影响。在描述对不孕症的评价时,医生(7 人)和患者(8 人)都引用了宗教/精神概念。我们还讨论了宗教/精神评价对不孕症的污名化或去污名化的潜在作用:我们的研究结果与不孕症医生和患者完全支持将不孕症定义为一种疾病的假设相矛盾。虽然两个群体都认识到疾病标签的潜在益处,但对潜在污名化的警惕以及对宗教/精神的主动援引表明,更全面的模式可能是合适的。
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来源期刊
Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology
Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology PSYCHOLOGY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY-
CiteScore
6.80
自引率
8.00%
发文量
55
期刊介绍: The Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology reports and reviews outstanding research on psychological, behavioural, medical and social aspects of human reproduction, pregnancy and infancy. Medical topics focus on obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics and psychiatry. The growing work in relevant aspects of medical communication and medical sociology are also covered. Relevant psychological work includes developmental psychology, clinical psychology, social psychology, behavioural medicine, psychology of women and health psychology. Research into psychological aspects of midwifery, health visiting and nursing is central to the interests of the Journal. The Journal is of special value to those concerned with interdisciplinary issues. As a result, the Journal is of particular interest to those concerned with fundamental processes in behaviour and to issues of health promotion and service organization.
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