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Ian Watt

Commentary 2: Professional theories and institutional interaction

It is probably fair to say that the average medical practitioner spends very little time reflecting on the theories that underpin their professional practice. For the most part, medical education only implicitly covers the core theoretical assumptions. Medical students, at least in the UK, are notoriously impatient of theoretical discussion, and prefer instead teaching, which centers on the practicalities of ‘what to do’? whether it be to give an injection or break bad news. This is not to deny the impact of theories in medicine, but simply to suggest that many practitioners rarely consider their implications, and see such activity as the role of the academic and far removed from day to day practice. Such an outlook clearly poses challenges for work such as the papers in this issue if their conclusions are to influence practice.

Communication & Medicine, Walter de Gruyter

Print ISSN: 1612-1783
Volume: 2, 10/2005
Pages: 193 - 194

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