Understanding our patients. An anthropological approach.

OBJECTIVE: To provide an accurate description of the views of a suburban population on health, disease and its causes and the provision of medical and other forms of care. A specific purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the relevance of this research methodology and its similarity to general practice. METHOD: An ethnographic study. A discrete Australian coastal suburb with a broad socio-demographic mix. RESULTS: The health beliefs of the population and their views on the delivery of care are briefly summarised. A fuller report is available from the General Practice Evaluation Program--Grant No. 275. CONCLUSIONS: The application of ethnographic methods of Australian suburbia provides new, valid and reliable information which is needed if the health messages and care provided to people are to be relevant.