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General practitioners' experiences of providing somatic care for patients with severe mental illness: a qualitative study.
- Source :
- BMC Primary Care; 3/22/2024, Vol. 25 Issue 1, p1-11, 11p
- Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Background: Patients dealing with severe mental illnesses (SMI) often face suboptimal clinical outcomes and higher mortality rates due to a range of factors, including undetected physical health conditions. The provision of care for individuals with SMI is frequently disjointed, as they engage with diverse healthcare providers. Despite this fragmentation, primary care, particularly general practitioners (GPs), assumes a pivotal role in the care of SMI patients. Our study aimed to delve into the first-hand experiences of GPs in delivering somatic care to SMI patients, concentrating on the challenges they encounter and the strategies they employ to navigate these difficulties. Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with fifteen GPs, utilizing a semi-structured interview guide, supplemented by ethnographic observations during clinical consultations in general practice. Through inductive coding, interview transcripts and observational field notes were systematically analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The findings were then deliberated upon within the author group. Results: GPs revealed that managing the chronic somatic care of SMI patients posed significant challenges. These challenges encompassed the multifaceted needs of patients, their behavior tied to symptoms, a lack of care continuity, and overarching time constraints. To tackle these challenges, the GPs had devised various strategies. However, all participants underscored the critical importance of having adequate time to properly prepare for, conduct, and follow up on consultations. Conclusion: The GPs' interactions with SMI patients brought numerous challenges, although treating these patients were concurrently acknowledged as vital and fulfilling. The findings suggest that increased allocated time in general practice consultations for patients with SMI is important to support the somatic treatment requirements of this patient group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- MENTAL illness treatment
WORK
OCCUPATIONAL roles
PSYCHIATRIC treatment
QUALITATIVE research
FAMILY medicine
RESEARCH funding
GENERAL practitioners
PRIMARY health care
INTERVIEWING
ETHNOLOGY research
FIELD notes (Science)
PHYSICIANS' attitudes
SEVERITY of illness index
STRATEGIC planning
CONTINUUM of care
THEMATIC analysis
PHYSICIAN-patient relations
RESEARCH methodology
MEDICAL coding
PHENOMENOLOGY
NEEDS assessment
PSYCHOSOCIAL factors
EXPERIENTIAL learning
INTEGRATED health care delivery
MEDICAL referrals
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 27314553
- Volume :
- 25
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- BMC Primary Care
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 176220499
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-024-02338-z