According to the explanatory model, the clinician should do which of the following?

• A. Setting the clinician's expert knowledge alongside the patient's explanation and viewpoint
• B. Dictating the treatment plan without patient input
• C. Ignoring patient explanations
• D. Focusing only on physical symptoms

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that care should be a two-way conversation where the clinician’s medical expertise is paired with the patient’s own explanations and experiences of illness. The explanatory model, often attributed to Kleinman, emphasizes that patients have personal beliefs about what caused their symptoms, how long they’ll last, what the illness means for their life, and what treatments fit their values and circumstances. The best approach is for the clinician to invite and listen to these patient explanations, validate them, and then integrate them with medical knowledge to build a shared plan. This collaboration helps address cultural and psychosocial factors that shape how symptoms are understood and managed, improving engagement and adherence.

Choosing a path that dictates treatment without patient input misses essential context and can lead to resistance or nonadherence. Ignoring patient explanations similarly ignores crucial beliefs and experiences. Focusing only on physical symptoms reduces the illness to surface signs and neglects the broader psychosocial dimensions that influence wellbeing.