[Theory of action on patient relationships. A different way of representing and understanding the behaviour of the family doctor in the clinic].

OBJECTIVE

To identify the «theory in the action», according to the concept of Argyris and Schon, in a group of Family Doctors and to examine whether this «theory» seems to be a valid representation of their behaviour, as well as a comparison with results of other studies.

DESIGN

Descriptive, cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Primary Care.

PARTICIPANTS

Ten Family Doctors with a minimum of 10 years experience in Health Centres of a city and its surrounding area.

METHOD

Intentional sampling was used to select the participants, according to age, sex, characteristics of the Health Centre, and style of practice style. Data was collected from recordings and transcription of self-recordings, as well as from observations in the consulting room. Inductive formulation and grouping of the propositions was performed from the identification of the behaviours in the consulting room and as well as their context following the proposals of Argyris and Schon. A comparison was also made of the propositions of the participants of this study and with those in the literature.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The 84 propositions from the interviews were grouped into 9 topical categories, which in order of weight were: confidence / interest, prescribing medications, subjective dimension, direction, negotiation, distance, and information. The propositions of the first two topics are basically similar, while differences appear in the «theory in action» of various doctors. The propositions were comparable with the results of other studies.

CONCLUSION

It is possible to formulate the theory in action of Family Doctors that appears to be an overall and coherent representation of their behaviour in the consulting room.