ANALYSIS OF THE FAMILY PLANNING CONSULTATION – PATIENT’S AGENDA (HIDDEN AGENDA)
It is important that the patient’s agenda always comes before the doctor’s agenda. The patient’s agenda may be overt or covert (the hidden agenda). The agenda may include that of the partner, whether present or absent at the particular consultation. Family planners encourage patients to bring their partners with them to a consultation. Seeing a couple together may be beneficial so that the method chosen can be one that suits both partners.
Neighbour calls the line which the patient has been rehearsing in the waiting room the ‘opening gambit’ (1987). The patient may well have more than one of these at the ready. Perhaps a ‘respectable’ line such as, ‘The Pill is giving me these awful headaches, doctor’, and a line about her fundamental problem such as, ‘My husband is unemployed and has lost all interest in sex’, which could be used if the time is felt to be ripe. The respectable line is far more likely to be used with its lower risk, if the doctor does not make good eye contact initially or if he pre-empts the patient’s offering by asking a question.
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Tags: Erectile Dysfunction, Men’s Health