New Developments in the Behavioral Sciences
The study of human behavior has always been important to general practitioners.
In the past, however, insights have been gained intuitively rather than by an
organized approach to problems. Recent developments in behavioral and social
science have been important to medicine as a whole, but particularly to family
medicine.
Behavioral science has directed our attention to the process by which people
seek medical care, a crucial area for all primary physicians. It has made
physicians themselves the objects of study, thus making us more aware of the
importance of our own behavior in determining the quality of care, for example,
in decision making and prescribing. It has increased our insights into the
doctor–patient relationship, family relationships, and the behavioral aspects of
illness. It has made us think about some of the fundamental aspects of medicine,
such as our concepts of health, disease, and illness, the role of the physician, and
the ethics of medicine. It has brought to our attention the large portion of the
iceberg of hidden illness normally not seen by the medical profession. Finally,
it has increased our knowledge of behavioral and social factors involved in the
causation of disease.
The situation with behavioral science is analogous to that of chemistry and
physiology a century ago. A new body of knowledge demanded integration with
medicine, and integration was eventually achieved, partly by changes in curriculum,
but mainly by changes in clinical practice introduced by clinicians who had
mastered the new knowledge. In the same way, new knowledge from the behavioral
sciences will be integrated with medicine through changes in clinical practice.
As generalist clinicians practicing a patient-centered clinical method, family
physicians are in a key position to make this synthesis.
New Developments in the Behavioral Sciences
The study of human behavior has always been important to general practitioners.
In the past, however, insights have been gained intuitively rather than by an
organized approach to problems. Recent developments in behavioral and social
science have been important to medicine as a whole, but particularly to family
medicine.
Behavioral science has directed our attention to the process by which people
seek medical care, a crucial area for all primary physicians. It has made
physicians themselves the objects of study, thus making us more aware of the
importance of our own behavior in determining the quality of care, for example,
in decision making and prescribing. It has increased our insights into the
doctor–patient relationship, family relationships, and the behavioral aspects of
illness. It has made us think about some of the fundamental aspects of medicine,
such as our concepts of health, disease, and illness, the role of the physician, and
the ethics of medicine. It has brought to our attention the large portion of the
iceberg of hidden illness normally not seen by the medical profession. Finally,
it has increased our knowledge of behavioral and social factors involved in the
causation of disease.
The situation with behavioral science is analogous to that of chemistry and
physiology a century ago. A new body of knowledge demanded integration with
medicine, and integration was eventually achieved, partly by changes in curriculum,
but mainly by changes in clinical practice introduced by clinicians who had
mastered the new knowledge. In the same way, new knowledge from the behavioral
sciences will be integrated with medicine through changes in clinical practice.
As generalist clinicians practicing a patient-centered clinical method, family
physicians are in a key position to make this synthesis.
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