WOMENS SELF-ASSESSED PERSONAL HEALTH RESOURCES

Objective -To contribute to the development of a resource-oriented med ical language by identifying self-assessed personal health resources i n women. Design -Key questions were developed to invite the patient to tell the general practitioner about such resources. Patients' answers were audiotaped and analysed qualitatively according to Giorgi's phen omenological approach. The theoretical frame of reference included sal utogenesis, patient-centredness, and gender perspectives. Setting -Two female general practitioners and their consultations. Subjects -37 co nsecutive female patients aged 24-85 years. Main outcome measures -Com mon aspects of personal qualities and strategies considered by women a s their health resources. Results -The material unveiled health resour ces related to 1) internal strength mobilized by external strain, 2) i nteractive networks within and outside the family, 3) lifestyle practi ces, 4) physical and social activity, 5) acceptance and facilitation o f the natural course of disease, and 6) constitution. Conclusion -Fema le patients have explicit and intelligible ideas about their self-asse ssed personal health resources, which can be identified and mobilized by the general practitioner and form part of potentially empowering st rategies in medical practice.