In this age of increasing marketing by pharmaceutical companies and
healthcare organizations and increased patient advocacy, I would consider
adding a fourth model to your theoretical framework. Here, the direction
is one way, from the patient to the doctor; the physician acquiesces to a
patient request without much discussion or deliberation on his or her
part. Pressure from patients or responding to patient expectations has
been shown to be an important factor in decisions such as providing
antibiotics or other prescriptions and in referring to specialty care.
Rapid Response:
A fourth model
In this age of increasing marketing by pharmaceutical companies and
healthcare organizations and increased patient advocacy, I would consider
adding a fourth model to your theoretical framework. Here, the direction
is one way, from the patient to the doctor; the physician acquiesces to a
patient request without much discussion or deliberation on his or her
part. Pressure from patients or responding to patient expectations has
been shown to be an important factor in decisions such as providing
antibiotics or other prescriptions and in referring to specialty care.
Competing interests: No competing interests