Conversation strategies in interaction between physician and competitor patient

Physician – patient relationship can be evaluated from multiple angles. This study evaluates this issue from 'competitor' patient perspective. The method used in this research was conversation analysis in which 33 consultations from 50 clinical counseling were recorded at Shahid Faghihi Hospital and analyzed based on conversation analysis method. Accordingly, with descriptive – analytical method the conversational strategies of the physician and competitor patient with each other were extracted. Results showed that the patients used four strategies namely: uncertainty, acceptance, search certainty, and haggling. Corresponding to each strategy, physicians used the feasibility/persuasive, admonition, certainty, and if…should strategies, too. Also, physicians used other three strategies namely reviewing, ignorance and crossing, and repulsion. The important point is that if the interaction between physician and patient is transparent and based on active engagement, the patient has more confidence in this relation, and 'acceptance' strategy for patient and 'admonition' strategy for physician is created. These strategies are the participatory approaches in which the patient and physician exchange the information and this helps in treatment process and especially helps the patient to subordinate.