The Physical Examination as Ritual: Social Sciences and Embodiment in the Context of the Physical Examination

Cari Costanzo; Abraham Verghese

doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2017.12.004

The Physical Examination as Ritual: Social Sciences and Embodiment in the Context of the Physical Examination

Med Clin North Am. 2018 May;102(3):425-431. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2017.12.004.

Authors

Cari Costanzo¹, Abraham Verghese²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anthropology, Main Quad, Building 50, 450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. Electronic address: costanzo@stanford.edu.
² Department of Medicine, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Drive S102, Stanford, CA 94305-5110, USA.

PMID: 29650064
DOI: 10.1016/j.mcna.2017.12.004

Abstract

The privilege of examining a patient is a skill of value beyond its diagnostic utility. A thorough physical examination is an important ritual that benefits patients and physicians. The concept of embodiment helps one understand how illness and pain further define and shape the lived experiences of individuals in the context of their race, gender, sexuality, and socioeconomic status. Understanding ritual in medicine, including the placebo effects of such rituals, reaffirms the centrality of the physical examination to the process of building strong physician-patient relationships.

Keywords: Embodiment; Physical examination; Physician-patient relationship; Ritual; Social Sciences and Medicine.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Burnout, Professional / prevention & control
Ceremonial Behavior*
Culturally Competent Care / methods
Culturally Competent Care / standards
Humans
Physical Examination* / psychology
Physical Examination* / standards
Physician-Patient Relations*
Placebo Effect
Social Sciences