Parry2004

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Parry2004
BibType ARTICLE
Key Parry2004
Author(s) Ruth H. Parry
Title The interactional management of patients' physical incompetence: a conversation analytic study of physiotherapy interactions
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, Conversation Analysis, Medical EMCA, Incompetence, Physiotherapy
Publisher
Year 2004
Language English
City
Month
Journal Sociology of Health & Illness
Volume 26
Number 7
Pages 976–1007
URL Link
DOI 10.1111/j.0141-9889.2004.00425.x
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

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Abstract

Patients’ physical incompetence is a feature of many clinical interactions; the challenges it presents are not only technical but also interactional. This paper examines how interpretations and interactional consequences of physical incompetence are dealt with during stroke physiotherapy. A conversation analytic approach was used to examine video-recorded treatment sessions. Analysis demonstrated that managing physical incompetence forms an important element of the organisation of these interactions. Through their conduct, patients and therapists limit and counter its various negative implications, including those which attribute it to failure of a patient's efforts, co-operation and personal competence, and failure of therapy. Understanding orientations to incompetence and their influence upon interactions provides some explanations, or ‘good reasons’, for certain features of clinical interactions that have attracted criticism. Analysis also shows how management of incompetence is grounded in the clinician's authority and contributes to its maintenance.

In the face of failures of physical competence, participants collaboratively and continually work to portray patients as deserving of treatment rather than sanction, and to convey that despite evident difficulties, the therapeutic process is a co-operative and successful endeavour. The paper examines how these meanings are addressed and accomplished through interaction

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