01460nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653003300055653001100088653001100099653002300110653001200133653001300145653003500158653002600193100001200219245010600231300001100337490000700348050001500355520083400370022001401204       2005                            d  c2005 Sep10aAttitude of Health Personnel10aBrazil10aHumans10aLeprostatic Agents10aleprosy10aPatients10aProfessional-Patient Relations10aSocioeconomic Factors1 aWhite C00aExplaining a complex disease process: talking to patients about Hansen's disease (leprosy) in Brazil.  a310-300 v19  aWHITE 20053 a<p>Patient explanatory models of Hansen's disease (leprosy) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, tend to be syntheses of folk models of illness and health, biomedical models to which patients are exposed at different stages in the treatment process, and individual patient experiences of illness. The sensitive presentation of biomedical information about Hansen's disease to patients has the potential to increase adherence to treatment programs and increase patient confidence in the biomedical system. Conversely, withholding or poor presentation of biomedical information can create misunderstanding and confusion for patients. In this article, I explore the ways in which people who are affected by Hansen's disease in Rio de Janeiro learn about different aspects of their illness and its treatment from health care professionals.</p>  a0745-5194