ABSTRACT
This chapter explains how interpersonal relationships are at the center of health meaning making, shared decision-making, self-care, and community health. Using examples of contemporary discourses, ranging from the self-care movement to challenges in provider-patient relationships (e.g., provider burnout and patient satisfaction), the chapter considers models (e.g., the paternalistic model) that are based on providers’ control and power in making health decisions, in contrast to those that emphasize equitable and open communication to shape the well-being of both parties in healthcare relationships. Interpersonal healthcare relationships are discussed with respect to how they shape health-related meaning making and behaviors, including provider-patient relationships (in clinical and therapeutic settings), family relationships (partners and parent-child), community relationships (e.g., support groups, community groups, and associations), and workplace relationships (e.g., with colleagues and between employers and employees). Students are asked to envision ways to center multiple meanings of health and disease to create high-quality healthcare relationships. Students also envisage how the whole person approach to self-care, care for others, and care for communities (e.g., about navigating disability, survivorship, and substance abuse) can be implemented to address communities’ health disparities. Students also are encouraged to examine how race, gender, sexuality, and socioeconomic status discourses connect with models of healthcare and the whole person, social justice principles of equity, access, fairness, and inclusion in their relationships and those of their communities.
