Representations of Kidney Failure Patients via WWW.PANTIP.COM

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the representations of kidney failure patients on www.pantip.com by applying Stuart Hall’s Representation theory as a framework. The study reveals 5 main representations of kidney failure patients as 1.) those who need special care 2.) those who are tired of and discouraged from the treatment 3.) those who have abnormality in comparison to normal people 4.) those who gain less opportunity than normal people and 5.) those who are the burden of their families. These representations, which were totally presented in negative aspects, were shedding light upon non-patients’ or society’s attitude towards the patients. They may affect the patients’ courage in their medication and non-patients’ more attention to their health issue.