How general practitioners understand and handle medically unexplained symptoms: a focus group study.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) are a common yet challenging encounter in primary care. The aim of this study was to explore how general practitioners (GPs) understand and handle MUS. METHODS:Three focus group interviews were conducted with a total of 23 GPs. Participants with varied clinical experience were purposively recruited. The data were analysed thematically, using the concept of framing as an analytical lens. RESULTS:The GPs alternated between a biomedical frame, centred on disease, and a biopsychosocial frame, centred on the sick person. Each frame shaped the GPs' understanding and handling of MUS. The biomedical frame emphasised the lack of objective evidence, problematized subjective patient testimony, and manifested feelings of uncertainty, doubt and powerlessn

SUBMITTER: Rasmussen EB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5932817 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature