By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    health benefits of taking a vacation to reduce stress
    Relaxing European Destinations to Reduce Stress Risks to Health
    October 11, 2021
    pain management tips
    Managing Pain Differently: Alternative Pain Management Techniques
    January 12, 2022
    5 Ways to Promote Wellness in Your Home
    April 12, 2022
    Latest News
    5 Reasons to Consider Drinking Sparkling Water
    June 8, 2023
    What Are the Different Categories of Medical Supplies?
    June 8, 2023
    Meal Delivery Services Can Promote Healthy Eating Habits
    June 8, 2023
    Getting Back in the Game: Sports Injuries Rehabilitation Tips
    May 31, 2023
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    The Cost of Diagnosis: The Sometimes Fatal “Incidentaloma”
    January 26, 2013
    Should patients choose doctors who are friends?
    December 10, 2015
    4 Reasons Chris Cornell’s Death Raises Medical Ethics Questions
    December 19, 2018
    Latest News
    Transparency and Ethics in Medical Residency Placement
    June 8, 2023
    MRI Sedation Options: What You Should Know Before Screening
    May 17, 2023
    What is the Process of Creating Medicine from Nature?
    May 2, 2023
    Choosing the Right Treatment Option for Varicose Veins
    May 2, 2023
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Patient Reactance: What It Is and Why Clinicians Need to Be Aware of It
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Aa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Aa
Search
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Patient Reactance: What It Is and Why Clinicians Need to Be Aware of It
Business

Patient Reactance: What It Is and Why Clinicians Need to Be Aware of It

Steve Wilkins
Last updated: 2014/08/21 at 8:00 AM
Steve Wilkins
Share
6 Min Read
Patient Saying No
SHARE

Can you say “reactance”?  Don’t feel bad, I wasn’t familiar with the term either until recently.  But as you will see, anyone that has ever been a patient will catch on pretty quickly as to what reactance is and how it works.

Can you say “reactance”?  Don’t feel bad, I wasn’t familiar with the term either until recently.  But as you will see, anyone that has ever been a patient will catch on pretty quickly as to what reactance is and how it works.

Patient Saying NoReactance is how we respond to something that threatens to limit or eliminate our behavioral freedom.  I recently experienced reactance in the course of “prepping” for a colonoscopy.   The day before the colonoscopy you cannot eat anything except clear liquids.  Then you have to drink this horrible tasting “stuff” to clean you out…you get the idea.

Sure I understood the need for having the colonoscopy.  But the whole ritual made me feel really imposed upon by everyone involved – the doctor, hospital where I had the procedure, and the makers of the “stuff” I had to drink.  I thought of lots of counter arguments for why I needed food more than a colonoscopy.  Remind me what’s wrong with virtual colonoscopy?

More Read

employee's wellness

How Hospitals and Other Healthcare Providers Can Boost Employee Morale

What are the Benefits of Hospitals and Clinics Using Expense Management Services?
Tips to Keep Health Workers Safe in the Workplace
9 Hospitals That Have Introduced Green Initiatives
Best Money-Saving Tips for Health Managers

Compared to being diagnosed with cancer, diabetes or some other life-changing condition, the “loss of l freedom” associated with a colonoscopy is insignificant.  I cite my example only to illustrate what reactance is and how it works.

If you think about it, reactance is an inadvertent by-product of the way much of health care is organized and delivered.   Who hasn’t felt that waiting 45 minutes to see their doctor isn’t an unfair restriction on their time and behavior?  Or who hasn’t felt that the hospital admitting process is all about protecting the hospital and does nothing for the patient other than hold them captive as some clerk reads through 30 minutes of legal mumbo jumbo.

The author of the Health Influence – Persuasion Blog suggests that reactance typically follows the 3 step process:

Step 1.  People perceive an unfair restriction on their actions.

The key word here is, “unfair.”  People can accept restrictions, but they must feel that the restriction is reasonable, equal, and just.  When the restriction is unfair (they don’t know why it was applied, or it only applies for some people, or it is too tough), the next stage occurs.

Step 2.  A state of reactance is activated.

Reactance prompts a cognitive and emotional response in people.  Cognitively, we come up with counter arguments for why what we are being asked to do is unreasonable, unfair or not worth doing.  Emotionally, people can feel wronged and that they “aren’t going to take it anymore.”  Reactance is important to understand because it has strong motivational properties and leads to the final stage.

Step 3.  The person must act to remove the reactance.

The motivational qualities of reactance are so strong that the person must do something about it.  They must either “right the wrong” or get around the restriction. In the case of health care, reactance may manifest itself in the form of non-compliance, anger, poor satisfaction scores and so on.

How Can You Minimize Reactance in Your Health Organization?

The best way to minimize the risk of reactance,  according to researchers, is to make sure that there is a reasonable balance between what providers ask a patient to do (take a medication, get a colonoscopy, or wait 45 minutes) and the reasonableness and fairness of the request as perceived by the patient.

Waiting 45 minutes to see your physician for 7 minutes, and then feeling rushed and limited to 1 question, may seem like an unfair exchange to some patients.   Asking a newly diagnosed patient, who doesn’t fully understand the severity of their condition, to start taking a medication against their wishes, may seem unreasonable to patients as well.

Lack of time often works against providers when it comes to preventing reactance.   With limited time, providers are not always able to make a strong or believable case for why patients should do get a test or take a new medication.   Weak arguments and unrealistic threats of unlikely consequences from providers only tend to increase reactance in patients.

Do you have any good examples of “reactance provoking “requests that  your organization routinely makes upon patients?

That’s my opinion. What’s yours?

Sources:

Rains, S. A., & Turner, M. M. (2007). Psychological Reactance and Persuasive Health Communication : A Test and Extension of the Intertwined Model. Human Communication Research, 33, 241-269.

TAGGED: reactance

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Steve Wilkins August 21, 2014
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
Previous Article Specialty Pharmacy 5 Steps to Achieving URAC Specialty Pharmacy Accreditation
Next Article Google Adwords, Healthcare Marketing, Medical Practice Marketing, Physician Marketing Is Google Adwords a Good Marketing Option for Physicians?

Stay Connected

1.5k Followers Like
4.5k Followers Follow
2.8k Followers Pin
136k Subscribers Subscribe

Latest News

medical residency ethics
Transparency and Ethics in Medical Residency Placement
Medicare June 8, 2023
weight loss
From Pills To Procedures: A Comprehensive Guide To Medical Weight Loss
Weight Loss June 8, 2023
sparkling water health benefits
5 Reasons to Consider Drinking Sparkling Water
News June 8, 2023
skin allergy causes
What Are The Common Triggers Of Skin Allergy?
Allergy June 8, 2023

You Might also Like

Types of Remote Access Solutions for Hospitals
Medicare

Types of Remote Access Solutions for Hospitals

April 27, 2023
get a career in medical device sales
Medicare

What Are the Benefits of Attending Medical Sales College?

April 10, 2023
subscription based telemedicine
Hospital Administration

Subscription Management Solutions Are Crucial for Telemedicine

April 5, 2023
patient's well-being
Hospital Administration

Comfort And Safety: 7 Ways Healthcare Organizations Can Create A Better Environment For Their Patients

April 4, 2023
//

We influence million of users and is the most authentic source of information on healthcare business and technology news.

Quick Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Follow US

© 2008-2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?