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General practitioners' practical approach to initiating end-of-life conversations: a qualitative study.
- Source :
-
Family Practice . Jun2020, Vol. 37 Issue 3, p401-405. 5p. 1 Chart. - Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Background As doctors who provide care across the life-course, general practitioners (GPs) play a key role in initiating timely end-of-life discussions. Nonetheless, these discussions are often not initiated until close to death. Given the ageing of the population, GPs will be confronted with end-of-life care more often, and this needs to become a core skill for all GPs. Objective To describe GPs' approach to initiating end-of-life discussions. Methods Fifteen GPs or GP trainees from South-East Queensland, Australia, were purposively recruited to participate in a semi-structured interview. We analysed transcripts using a thematic analysis. Results GPs' approach to initiating end-of-life discussions was summarized by four themes: (1) Preparing the ground; (2) finding an entry point; (3) tailoring communication and (4) involving the family. Conclusions Emphasis on the doctor–patient relationship; assessing patient readiness for end-of-life discussions; and sensitive information delivery is consistent with factors previously reported to be important to both GPs and patients in this context. Our findings provide a framework for GPs initiating end-of-life discussions, which must be tailored to patient and GP personality factors. Further research is required to evaluate its outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 02632136
- Volume :
- 37
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Family Practice
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 144727612
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmz074