Medical Office Ethnography
Faculty Mentor Information
Dr. Anna Marie Trester (Mentor), Boise State University
Abstract
This research utilizes an ethnographic lens to explore the linguistics of a medical office, observing the interactions between healthcare workers and patients to analyze conversational dynamics and cues used in this setting. The data collected from communication events is used to assess turn-taking and interruption habits between health worker and patient to examine power dynamics and established levels of comfort for participants to initiate conversation/topics. Other important considerations include the register of those in the conversation, the level of formality in the words used, the tone, and whether these change based on the demographic of the participants of the interaction. An ethnographic approach is used to uncover the linguistic nuances in this setting and the influence they have on the effectiveness of communication in a medical encounter. Results from this research can shed light on current ethnographic trends, and can lead to the enhancement of patient-provider interactions and improve healthcare outcomes.
Medical Office Ethnography
This research utilizes an ethnographic lens to explore the linguistics of a medical office, observing the interactions between healthcare workers and patients to analyze conversational dynamics and cues used in this setting. The data collected from communication events is used to assess turn-taking and interruption habits between health worker and patient to examine power dynamics and established levels of comfort for participants to initiate conversation/topics. Other important considerations include the register of those in the conversation, the level of formality in the words used, the tone, and whether these change based on the demographic of the participants of the interaction. An ethnographic approach is used to uncover the linguistic nuances in this setting and the influence they have on the effectiveness of communication in a medical encounter. Results from this research can shed light on current ethnographic trends, and can lead to the enhancement of patient-provider interactions and improve healthcare outcomes.