Study Limitations
Our study builds on many qualitative, semi-structured, in-depth
interviews and out-patient clinic observations. Combining observation
and interviews was important in revealing barriers to recording
patients’ social circumstances. However, our study presents some
limitations.
Firstly, we did not explore patients’ perspectives. This can be
problematic because patients’ perspectives might not match our
preconceptions.
Secondly, we have not explored whether there might be essential
differences between wards that influence the relevance – and importance
– of recording social data in different ways. The best ways of
maintaining patients’ social histories might be related to factors
peculiar to a specific ward.
Thirdly, this study is based on the idea that patient social histories
are a ‘good thing’. However, knowing a patient’s job or age cannot stand
on its own, since objective descriptions conceal individual variety.
Thus, the future might benefit from a ‘two-handed’ approach rather than
an ‘either/or’, finding a dynamic balance between recording social
histories and sensing the patient in the given situation.