Assignment # 2

Fill out the table with 8-10 scholarly citations containing both argument
and counterargument.

IMRD Grid
Example grid and rough notes: Research on the Use and Effects of Illness Narratives
(note: this is a fictional example)

Author- Focus/ Methods Study Findings

date Main argument
Smith Effect of patient-written 159 of 200 non-trauma Patients who used
illness narrative on p- patients in ER filled out form in form reported
(2002) satisfaction emergency room. 130 satisfaction levels
completed satisfaction survey 15% higher than
while wailing for release or control group.
transfer. Collected and read by Why? Cathartic or
doc. before interview did it improve
quality of the
interview?
Tabby et al. Incorp. of narrative- 3 PCPs, internal med. Total 60 Comparison of
(2007) eliciting questions in patients over 18. Sessions interview and
doctor-patient interview. recorded, compared to doc charts showed only
How affect satisfaction; notes. Analyzed how much 7% og info actually
doc's sense of usefulness info recorded in chart (T-unit written into record,
of info. in analysis). Doc's assessment but doc’s
diagnosis/treatment. survey after patient visit. assessment of
usefulness was
high—in 59% of
cases indicated
info was very
useful for
diagnosis. 20%
somewhat. 10%
slightly.
Satisfaction about
equal to control
group.

Burke and Written Illness narratives Med students trained to Care teams in 6 of
Doon based on researcher construct structured narratives the 20 cases
(2004) interviews; distributed in based on interviews with 20 reported
rounds. Investigated cancer patients in clinic. transformative
whether info gleaned Typed, one page narratives information that
contradicted/supplem distributed to care team and would influence
entered current diagnosis discussed in rounds. their course of
and treatment plan Researcher attended, action; 9 indicated
interviewed the care team new or conflicting
about info they perceived as info relevant to the
SURPRISING/CONFLICT1NG/ treatment plan.
TRANSFORMATIVE in terms
of treatment or diagnosis

Sims and Patient support groups 352 stage 2 breast canc. Support grp ps had
Smith with narrative process- patients in 4 cynic sites better survival
(2009) survival rates participating regularly during 1 rates
year treatment phase in clinic
sponsored support groups with
narrative process. Examined
survival rates /expected rating
over 5 year period cf.. stage 2
 breast c p's who did not attend
support group sessions
Etc…