The Doctor-Patient Relationship: Inequality in Pain Construct

The doctor-patient relationship refers to the quality of interaction process; also to the influence and control that role players have within the relationship. This signifies the notion of inequality of experience as well as the perceived and actual outcomes thereof. The objective of the research was to explore the assumption that there is a correlation between patient consultation and anticipated and actual levels of pain reported by males and females who were operated for knee and hip replacement in Libya. The research questioned the impact the doctor-patient relationship has on the ‘pain construct’ that allowed exploration of the ‘divide’ between the role players, amongst other variables the influence of gender and culture. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with medical doctors who undertook the surgery and with patients, while observations were carried out during doctor-patient consulting sessions. With reference to gender, more male than female patients experienced a higher level of organic pain than anticipated prior to surgery, and both male and female patients experienced higher organic pain levels who had not received ‘informing consultation’ prior to surgery. These findings indicate that ‘inequality’ of doctor-patient is still prevalent in some societies highlighting cultural factors at play, while it also poses the question to what extent congruence of ‘pain construct’ can be attained through a doctor-patient relationship that is characterised by actual and perceived narrowing of the divide ‘traditionally defined’ by control and influence.