Making consultations run smoothly: An analysis of doctors' skilful use of time inspired by science and technology studies

TY - JOUR

T1 - Making consultations run smoothly

T2 - An analysis of doctors' skilful use of time inspired by science and technology studies

AU - Jespersen, Astrid Pernille

AU - Elgaard Jensen, Torben

PY - 2012/11

Y1 - 2012/11

N2 - This article investigates the skilful use of time in general practice consultations. It argues that consultation work involves social and material interactions, which are only partially conceptualized in existing medical practice literatures. As an alternative, this article employs ideas from the field of science and technology studies (STS), including notions of relationality, multiplicity and otherness. Through this lens, and based on extensive fieldwork, it describes the daily work of arranging time before, during and after consultations. In conclusion, it suggests that a STS-inspired analysis opens up a wider discussion of time as a complex resource and problem in general practice.

AB - This article investigates the skilful use of time in general practice consultations. It argues that consultation work involves social and material interactions, which are only partially conceptualized in existing medical practice literatures. As an alternative, this article employs ideas from the field of science and technology studies (STS), including notions of relationality, multiplicity and otherness. Through this lens, and based on extensive fieldwork, it describes the daily work of arranging time before, during and after consultations. In conclusion, it suggests that a STS-inspired analysis opens up a wider discussion of time as a complex resource and problem in general practice.

KW - Faculty of Humanities

KW - Ethnology

KW - National Health Denmark

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0961-463X

VL - 21

SP - 330

EP - 350

JO - Time and Society

JF - Time and Society

IS - 3

ER -