Defining Disease in the Information Age
2006
Defining Disease in the Information Age
publication
Author Information
Author(s): Olavo B. Amaral
Primary Institution: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Hypothesis
How do we define disease boundaries in the context of disease mongering?
Conclusion
The concept of disease boundaries is complex and should be approached with flexibility to prevent disease mongering.
Supporting Evidence
- Many conditions blur the lines between normal and illness.
- Self-prescription of medications is on the rise due to easy access to information.
- Doctors should focus on educating patients about treatment options.
Takeaway
Sometimes, people think they are sick when they are not, and we need to be careful about how we define what being sick means.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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