For me, discourse analysis is the interpretation, deduction, use and analysis of written/verbal communication and language. It can occur between anybody and can give indications of power struggle, the authoritarian figure and emotions in a conversation etc. As it is part of qualitative research, it occurs in natural speech and can be used to give an insight into speech relationships e.g doctor-patient. The data sources vary from consultations, communication skills, lectures, transcripts of films/interviews, focus groups and more. WHat is important is the choice of the words, grammar and sentence structure and what this can tell us about the person, who they are, where they are from in society and their message or agenda. How they interact with the other participants is also very important.
I chose the discourse analysis paper of: "A discourse analysis study of ‘good’ and ‘poor’ communication in an OSCE: a proposed new framework for teaching students"1.
- This paper looked at 4 specific communication skill stations in a 5th year OSCE (objective structured clinical exmaination) to see the language and interaction between the 'Dr' and 'patient'. The stations were chosen to be quite dramatic and testing for the medical students (e.g Cancer: an older white woman is advised to have a bronchcoscopy because of possible tumour recurrence, although she denies the possibility that the cancer may have returned.)
[This study isn't exactly linked to health and illness in society but is quite relevant to BSc students as well as many masters students into the development of the patient-doctor relationship.]
This taught me two main things about discourse analysis and especially the doctor-patient relationship
1. The importance of empathy and sensitivity in the doctor-patient relationship - especially when you're faced with a difficult task such as asking a businessman about his true alcohol intake or disclosing important information, it is important to choose your language carefully to reflect the situation and how you feel.
2. Authority in conversations - especially within the medical profession, some still abide by the patriarchal view of the doctor who tells you what to do and knows best. These converstaions can be evident of this and shows that despite information being so widely available, some patients will still live religoiusly by their doctor and thus, this can affect their perception of their illness in society. KNowing they have been given a pill or prescription for their pain etc can ensure that they play the 'sick role' of the patient in society fully (even if it is minor or nonexistant) - thus showing how important the authoritatrian language of a doctor can be.
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