“I Want to Worry About It”: How health improvement turns people away from their doctors

• In Event: Medical Sociology Section Open Call Paper Session

Abstract

Many Americans believe that they can and should improve their health through lifestyle choices, proactive screening, and preventive care. Mainstream discourses of health promotion are sometimes rooted in medical expertise, and sometimes not, meaning that patients may have expectations that their doctors are not prepared to meet. Drawing on 60 in-depth interviews with a diverse sample of American adults and an original survey (n=2,084), I find that many patients are more invested in taking control of their health than their physicians are. Multiple respondents were shocked and disappointed when their doctors didn't provide concrete advice about specific supplements, tailored diets, and exercise plans. Many responded by turning to alternative care providers or rejecting vaccines. These findings show how patient/provider mismatches are contributing to the ongoing decline of medical authority.

Author

• Rachel Kahn Best, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor