Revisiting the concept of representations in palliative medicine

Social components are central in medical palliative qualitative studies. Despite the frequent use of the word ``representation(s)'', few studies clearly make a reference to social representations theory. Thus, this theory suggests a structural analysis, which could supplement data from content analysis. This method, developed and validated in sociology and social psychology, could help to reveal some end of life's specific aspects and point intricate researches. (C) 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.