My Throat “Tickles”

THIS ARTICLE INVESTIGATES THE MULTIPLE WAYS IN WHICH BODIES PRESENT THEMSELVES IN EMAIL CONSULTATIONS (ECONS) BETWEEN PATIENTS AND GENERAL PRACTITIONERS (GPs). THE DATA STEM FROM A LARGER QUALITATIVE RESEARCH PROJECT ON DIGITAL CONSULTATION IN DENMARK, FOCUSING ON THE 65+ AGE GROUP. OUR ANALYSIS DEPARTS FROM A SOCIOTECHNICAL PERSPECTIVE BY CONSIDERING THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TECHNOLOGY IN QUESTION – THE ECON BETWEEN THE PATIENT AND GP – AS CREATING NEW CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPATION IN AND THE EXCHANGE OF COMMUNICATION WITHIN THIS RELATIONSHIP. OUR ANALYSIS LEADS TO A SIX-CATEGORY TYPOLOGY OF BODIES IN AFFECTIVE DISCOURSE IN ECONS: SENSATIONS, EMOTIONS, COUNTINGS, MEDICATION, VISUALS AND MOVEMENTS. THE ANALYSIS BRINGS TOGETHER A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE, THE MUTUAL SHAPINGS OF THE SOCIAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL, WITH AN AFFECTIVE PRACTICE-BASED APPROACH. THE ECON PRODUCES WHAT WE CALL AN “UNRULY DATA VITALITY”, AS THE DATA ARE ACCESSED AND RECOMBINED IN THE LARGER DIGITAL ECOSYSTEM OF THE DANISH PRIMARY CARE SECTOR.