RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Sí, Doctora
JF The Annals of Family Medicine
JO Ann Fam Med
FD American Academy of Family Physicians
SP 460
OP 462
DO 10.1370/afm.572
VO 4
IS 5
A1 Candib, Lucy M.
YR 2006
UL http://www.annfammed.org/content/4/5/460.abstract
AB Experience with seeing Latino patients at a community health center has taught a family physician that the patient’s response, “Sí, doctora [Yes, doctor]“ can have multiple meanings. Patients might say “yes” during consultations to avoid conflict or to defer to the more powerful doctor. The clinician’s understanding had to move to deeper levels when a visiting Ecuadorian friend learning English used “yes” multiple times in conversation, but not as an indicator of agreement or even comprehension. The family doctor realized that she could not assume what the patient implies by this simple expression. The apparent agreement of “yes” requires more. When a patient says, “Sí, doctora,” the doctor must probe with more questions and listen hard to the answers.