Which difficulties do GPs experience in consultations with patients with unexplained symptoms: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Many general practitioners (GPs) struggle with the communication with patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). This study aims to identify GPs' difficulties in communication during MUS consultations.

Methods

We video-recorded consultations and asked GPs immediately after the consultation whether MUS were presented. GPs and patients were then asked to reflect separately on the consultation in a semi-structured interview while watching the consultation. We selected the comments where GPs experienced difficulties or indicated they should have done something else and analysed these qualitatively according to the principles of constant comparative analysis. Next, we selected those video-recorded transcripts in which the patient also experienced difficulties;

SUBMITTER: Houwen J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6935475 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature