The influence of the media on the formation of cognitive dissonance in the doctor-to-patient interaction

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to discuss the specifics of communication between a doctor and a patient, complicated by the influence of the media. A survey of pseudoscientific ideas challenging a specialized medical knowledge together with the method of content-analysis indicate a cognitive dissonance in the doctor-patient interaction. Conclusions: the dissonance factor and the minimum necessary mutual understanding between a doctor and a patient are regulated by situationally relevant communicative models.

Keywords

• communication
• pseudoscience
• cognitive dissonance
• media
• conflict
• quality of care
• decision making
• medical error
• assessment
• characteristics and quality criteria of medical care