Patients' experiences of seeking help for emotional concerns in primary care: doctor as drug, detective and collaborator.

ABSTRACT:

Background

NICE guidelines for the management of emotional concerns in primary care emphasise the importance of communication and a trusting relationship, which is difficult to operationalise in practice. Current pressures in the NHS mean that it is important to understand care from a patient perspective. This study aimed to explore patients' experiences of primary care consultations for emotional concerns and what patients valued when seeking care from their GP.

Methods

Eighteen adults with experience of consulting a GP for emotional concerns participated in 4 focus groups. Data were analysed thematically.

Results

(1) Doctor as Drug: Patients' relationship with their GP was considered therapeutic with continuity particularly valued. (2) Doctor as Detective and Valida

SUBMITTER: Parker D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7020382 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature