Social Science and Medicine, 65(4), August 2007, pp.712-724.
Publisher:
Elsevier
... linguistic and interactional features clustered together and that these clusters were usually concordant with particular medical diagnoses. This study was undertaken to establish whether the observations made in German-speaking patients could be replicated in English speakers presenting to a less specialised epilepsy service. The findings presented here are based on transcripts of interviews with 11 patients admitted to a neurology ward in England because their consultant felt unable to make a clear diagnosis clinically. Transcripts were only analysed if the diagnosis of epilepsy or NES had been proven with video-EEG. The medical diagnosis was only disclosed to the linguist once a linguistic hypothesis of the diagnosis had been formulated to ensure that the linguist's decision would
Taking the history” remains the most important diagnostic tool in the assessment of people who have lost consciousness. The distinction of epileptic and non-epileptic seizures (NES) is particularly difficult and relevant. Whereas epileptic seizures can usually be controlled with antiepileptic drugs, NES are considered an expression of psychosocial distress and may improve with psychotherapy. The recording of typical seizures with simultaneous video and electroencephalography (EEG) can produce almost complete certainty about the diagnosis but access to video-EEG is limited, the test is very expensive and often video-EEG fails to capture typical seizures. A German research group used conversation analysis (CA) to examine patients’ descriptions of seizures to their doctors. They found that certain linguistic and interactional features clustered together and that these clusters were usually concordant with particular medical diagnoses. This study was undertaken to establish whether the observations made in German-speaking patients could be replicated in English speakers presenting to a less specialised epilepsy service. The findings presented here are based on transcripts of interviews with 11 patients admitted to a neurology ward in England because their consultant felt unable to make a clear diagnosis clinically. Transcripts were only analysed if the diagnosis of epilepsy or NES had been proven with video-EEG. The medical diagnosis was only disclosed to the linguist once a linguistic hypothesis of the diagnosis had been formulated to ensure that the linguist's decision would not be influenced by factors not contained in the 30-min-interview between doctor and patient. The linguist predicted the correct diagnosis in all cases.
Social Work in Health Care, 51(10), November 2012, pp.927-943.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
Citing the philosopher Hannah Arendt (who said that everyone has the right to appear in public as an embodied, singular individual), and contending that for many years people with epilepsy have been hidden from view or encouraged to hide their condition, this article analyses uploads of epilepsy on YouTube. The author argues that personal uploads on YouTube, a video sharing website, are the only mass media examples in which those with epilepsy can exercise their right to appear without the interpretation of intermediaries. The study involved analysis of 127 videos containing representations of epilepsy and seizure and posted on YouTube between 2006 and 2011. The article explains the background to the study and the methodology used, and describes the characteristics of the videos. It presents the results of the analysis, covering content, characteristics of posters and their motivations, and the differences between uploads by organisations and individuals. It discusses types of postings and reactions to them, with examples, noting that almost all uploads want to educate viewers about the medical aspects of epilepsy and its symptoms and how it affects the individual and the family. The article
Citing the philosopher Hannah Arendt (who said that everyone has the right to appear in public as an embodied, singular individual), and contending that for many years people with epilepsy have been hidden from view or encouraged to hide their condition, this article analyses uploads of epilepsy on YouTube. The author argues that personal uploads on YouTube, a video sharing website, are the only mass media examples in which those with epilepsy can exercise their right to appear without the interpretation of intermediaries. The study involved analysis of 127 videos containing representations of epilepsy and seizure and posted on YouTube between 2006 and 2011. The article explains the background to the study and the methodology used, and describes the characteristics of the videos. It presents the results of the analysis, covering content, characteristics of posters and their motivations, and the differences between uploads by organisations and individuals. It discusses types of postings and reactions to them, with examples, noting that almost all uploads want to educate viewers about the medical aspects of epilepsy and its symptoms and how it affects the individual and the family. The article concludes that uploads can be interpreted as representing people's and organisations' assertion of their right to appear.
Subject terms:
internet, rights, self-concept, user views, videos, advocacy, attitudes, communication, epilepsy, health education;