A medical condition is a general term used to describe an observation made that can have an impact on the health of an individual.
The term is sometimes used when a study encompasses a diverse variety of clinical entities,[1] such as in the evaluation of generalist care.[2]
Although the phrase is sometimes equated with disease, usage of the latter term can be questionable in some contexts.[3] For example, the term "medical condition" can be useful in describing entities such as Mongolian spots. The condition is not dangerous, but it is still is useful to record it accurately so that one can explicitly exclude less benign conditions. However, it is not usually considered a "disease" or a "disorder".
The phrase is also sometimes used to bypass some of the difficulties in precisely distinguishing between symptoms and signs. The distinction between the two is sometimes described as objective versus subjective, but sometimes described as being dependent upon the observer. For example, clubbing is usually given as an example of a sign, because it means something to the health care provider but not to the patient. However, if a health care provider examines another health care provider, the information asymmetry may be reduced or absent, and is therefore of limited value in placing the observation into a discrete category. Use of more general terms can avoid this complication.
Less commonly, the term "medical condition" is used to describe the general medical state though this usage can create unnecessary ambiguity.
Objections and exclusions
editPsychiatric
editThe use of the term is usually inclusive, but it can also be used to exclude. For one insurance website uses a definition of "medical condition" to explicitly include injury, illness or disease, but explicitly exclude psychiatric illness.[4] However, this website does not represent any specific accredited organization, and does not necessarily align with the usage of the word in other contexts.
DSM includes the category "psychological factors affecting medical condition",[5] which may carry the implication the specific enumerated factors would not themselves be classified as medical conditions. However, the use of this category has not met with universal acceptance.[6]
Entities such as pathological gambling have been described as medical conditions.[7]
Other
editAlthough the term "medical condition" is usually considered value neutral and inoffensive, numerous physicians have objected to use of the term to describe states such as pregnancy[8] or dyspraxia.[9]
The term "medical conditions" has also been used as an explicit contrast to "physical disabilities".[10]
Some physicians explicitly distinguish between "signs" and the "underlying medical condition".[11] However, others describe symptoms or signs as "emergency medical conditions" (as opposed to indicators of those conditions.)[12] Use of precise language in these contexts may be emphasized because of the importance of the phrase "emergency medical condition" upon Medicaid reimbursement.
References
edit- ^ Crow R, Spicer J (1995). "Categorisation of the patient's medical condition — an analysis of nursing judgement". Int J Nurs Stud. 32 (5): 413–22. PMID 8550302.
- ^ Smetana GW, Landon BE, Bindman AB (2007). "A comparison of outcomes resulting from generalist vs specialist care for a single discrete medical condition: a systematic review and methodologic critique". Arch. Intern. Med. 167 (1): 10–20. doi:10.1001/archinte.167.1.10. PMID 17210873.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Chen M, Fernandez HL (2001). "Alzheimer movement re-examined 25 years later: is it a "disease" or a senile condition in medical nature?". Front. Biosci. 6: E30–40. PMID 11502485.
- ^ "Expat Insurance Glossary by The Insurance Page". Retrieved 2008-11-20.
- ^ Ketterer MW, Mahr G, Goldberg AD (2000). "Psychological factors affecting a medical condition: ischemic coronary heart disease". J Psychosom Res. 48 (4–5): 357–67. PMID 10880658.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Fava GA, Fabbri S, Sirri L, Wise TN (2007). "Psychological factors affecting medical condition: a new proposal for DSM-V". Psychosomatics. 48 (2): 103–11. doi:10.1176/appi.psy.48.2.103. PMID 17329602.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Miller MM (1996). "Medical approaches to gambling issues--I: The medical condition". Wis. Med. J. 95 (9): 623–34. PMID 8855710.
- ^ "B. Fostering an Optimal Womb Environment: Honor Pregnancy as a Natural Event (Not a Medical Condition) and Recognize the Importance of the Mother's Emotional, Mental, and Physical Well-being; a Safe Environment; and a Strong Support System". J Perinat Educ. 10 (4): 3–18. 2001. doi:10.1624/105812401X88417. PMC 1595084. PMID 17273274.
- ^ Kirby A (2004). "Is dyspraxia a medical condition or a social disorder?". Br J Gen Pract. 54 (498): 6–8. PMC 1314770. PMID 14965399.
- ^ Tong HC, Kandala G, Haig AJ, Nelson VS, Yamakawa KS, Shin KY (2002). "Physical functioning in female caregivers of children with physical disabilities compared with female caregivers of children with a chronic medical condition". Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 156 (11): 1138–42. PMID 12413344.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Marples IL, Murray P (2000). "Morphine induced allodynia in child with brain tumour. Signs are more likely to have been due to underlying medical condition". BMJ. 320 (7231): 381. PMC 1127157. PMID 10657347.
- ^ Li J, Galvin HK, Johnson SC (2002). "The "prudent layperson" definition of an emergency medical condition". Am J Emerg Med. 20 (1): 10–3. PMID 11781904.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)