Claims in the clinic : A qualitative group interview study on healthcare communication about unestablished side effects of the copper IUD
Wemrell, Maria LU
and Gunnarsson, Lena
(2023)
In PLoS ONE
18(9 September).
- Abstract
Background Lay online communication about health-related issues has in recent years largely been associated with the spread of misinformation and decreased trust in healthcare. Such communication has included claims about systemic side effects of the copper IUD. In Sweden, a social media group centered on this issue now gathers around 8,700 members. This study aimed to use the case of reported yet unestablished side effects of the copper IUD to investigate experiences of and reasoning about healthcare encounters between caregivers and patients contesting established medical knowledge. Methods We conducted qualitative, semi-structured, digital group interviews with members of the social media group (seven groups, n = 23) and with... (More)
Background Lay online communication about health-related issues has in recent years largely been associated with the spread of misinformation and decreased trust in healthcare. Such communication has included claims about systemic side effects of the copper IUD. In Sweden, a social media group centered on this issue now gathers around 8,700 members. This study aimed to use the case of reported yet unestablished side effects of the copper IUD to investigate experiences of and reasoning about healthcare encounters between caregivers and patients contesting established medical knowledge. Methods We conducted qualitative, semi-structured, digital group interviews with members of the social media group (seven groups, n = 23) and with midwives and gynecologists (six groups, n = 15). We also gathered essays written by social media group members (n = 23). The material was analyzed thematically. Results The participant accounts pointed towards tensions related to principles of evidence-based medicine, i.e., perceived insufficiency of research on the safety of the copper IUD and lack of clarity in routines for reporting and following up suspected side effects, and of patient-centered care, i.e., listening respectfully to patients. Tension between caregivers’ obligation to adhere to evidence-based medicine while also providing patient-centered care was noted. Conclusion Healthcare providers’ efforts to assess and address patient claims contesting established medical knowledge should include ensuring and communicating sufficient research, clarifying procedures for reporting suspected side effects, and improving person-centered care. This can increase the quality of care while contributing to the mitigation of distrust in healthcare and the spreading of health-related misinformation.
(Less)
- author
- Wemrell, Maria
LU
and Gunnarsson, Lena
- organization
- publishing date
- 2023-09
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- PLoS ONE
- volume
- 18
- issue
- 9 September
- article number
- e0291966
- publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:37768919
- scopus:85173255912
- ISSN
- 1932-6203
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0291966
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- fe3b75e3-a4c8-442d-b0ab-6541c7610f9f
- date added to LUP
- 2023-12-13 13:17:35
- date last changed
- 2024-04-12 04:04:01
@article{fe3b75e3-a4c8-442d-b0ab-6541c7610f9f,
abstract = {{<p>Background Lay online communication about health-related issues has in recent years largely been associated with the spread of misinformation and decreased trust in healthcare. Such communication has included claims about systemic side effects of the copper IUD. In Sweden, a social media group centered on this issue now gathers around 8,700 members. This study aimed to use the case of reported yet unestablished side effects of the copper IUD to investigate experiences of and reasoning about healthcare encounters between caregivers and patients contesting established medical knowledge. Methods We conducted qualitative, semi-structured, digital group interviews with members of the social media group (seven groups, n = 23) and with midwives and gynecologists (six groups, n = 15). We also gathered essays written by social media group members (n = 23). The material was analyzed thematically. Results The participant accounts pointed towards tensions related to principles of evidence-based medicine, i.e., perceived insufficiency of research on the safety of the copper IUD and lack of clarity in routines for reporting and following up suspected side effects, and of patient-centered care, i.e., listening respectfully to patients. Tension between caregivers’ obligation to adhere to evidence-based medicine while also providing patient-centered care was noted. Conclusion Healthcare providers’ efforts to assess and address patient claims contesting established medical knowledge should include ensuring and communicating sufficient research, clarifying procedures for reporting suspected side effects, and improving person-centered care. This can increase the quality of care while contributing to the mitigation of distrust in healthcare and the spreading of health-related misinformation.</p>}},
author = {{Wemrell, Maria and Gunnarsson, Lena}},
issn = {{1932-6203}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{9 September}},
publisher = {{Public Library of Science (PLoS)}},
series = {{PLoS ONE}},
title = {{Claims in the clinic : A qualitative group interview study on healthcare communication about unestablished side effects of the copper IUD}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291966}},
doi = {{10.1371/journal.pone.0291966}},
volume = {{18}},
year = {{2023}},
}