scholarly journals GPs’ and nurses’ perceptions of electronic cigarettes in England: a qualitative interview study

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (678) ◽  
pp. e8-e14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Stepney ◽  
Paul Aveyard ◽  
Rachna Begh

BackgroundReports from royal colleges and organisations such as Public Health England suggest that GPs and nurses should advise patients to switch to electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) if they do not want to stop smoking using licensed medication. However, there are no data on what practitioners think, feel, or do about e-cigarettes.AimTo explore practitioners’ perceptions and attitudes towards e-cigarettes, and their experiences of discussing e-cigarettes with patients.Design and settingA qualitative interview study was carried out with semi-structured interviews conducted with nurses and GPs across England in 2017.MethodParticipants were interviewed once either via telephone or face to face. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsInterviews were conducted with 23 practitioners (eight nurses and 15 GPs). There were three key themes: ambivalence and uncertainty; pragmatism; and responsibility. Many practitioners had uncertainties about the safety and long-term risks of e-cigarettes. Some had ambivalence about their own knowledge and ability to advise on their use, as well as uncertainty about whether to and what to advise patients. Despite this, many sought to provide honesty in consultations by acknowledging these uncertainties about e-cigarettes with patients and taking a pragmatic approach, believing that e-cigarettes were a ‘step in the right direction’. Practitioners wanted advice from healthcare regulators such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to reassure them about the safety of e-cigarettes, practical tools to support the consultation, and to control their use by providing behavioural support programmes for reduction or cessation.ConclusionCurrent dissemination strategies for guidelines are not effective in reaching practitioners, who are offering more cautious advice about e-cigarettes than guidelines suggest is reasonable.

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e041229
Author(s):  
Clare Clement ◽  
Matthew J Ridd ◽  
Kirsty Roberts ◽  
Miriam Santer ◽  
Robert Boyle ◽  
...  

AimTo explore parent and general practitioner (GP) understanding and beliefs about food allergy testing for children with eczema.Design and settingQualitative interview study in UK primary care within the Trial of Eczema allergy Screening Tests feasibility trial.ParticipantsSemi-structured interviews with parents of children with eczema taking part in the feasibility study and GPs at practices hosting the study.Results21 parents and 11 GPs were interviewed. Parents discussed a range of potential causes for eczema, including a role for food allergy. They believed allergy testing to be beneficial as it could potentially identify a cure or help reduce symptoms and they found negative tests reassuring, suggesting to them that no dietary changes were needed. GPs reported limited experience and uncertainty regarding food allergy in children with eczema. While some GPs believed referral for allergy testing could be appropriate, most were unclear about its utility. They thought it should be reserved for children with severe eczema or complex problems but wanted more information to advise parents and help guide decision making.ConclusionsParents’ motivations for allergy testing are driven by the desire to improve their child’s condition and exclude food allergy as a possible cause of symptoms. GPs are uncertain about the role of allergy testing and want more information about its usefulness to support parents and help inform decision making.Trial registration numberISRCTN15397185.


BJGP Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. bjgpopen20X101092
Author(s):  
Vincent A van Vugt ◽  
Anja JThCM de Kruif ◽  
Johannes C van der Wouden ◽  
Henriëtte E van der Horst ◽  
Otto R Maarsingh

BackgroundInternet-based vestibular rehabilitation (VR) with physiotherapy support, known as blended VR, was effective in reducing vestibular symptoms in a recent randomised controlled trial. Blended VR is a complex intervention comprised of physiotherapeutic visits, the vertigo training website, and VR exercises. Because of these interacting components, it is important to understand how blended VR works, for whom it works best, and how it should ideally be delivered.AimTo investigate the experiences of both patients and physiotherapists with blended internet-based VR.Design & settingA qualitative interview study was performed with patients who received blended internet-based VR with physiotherapy support, and physiotherapists who provided this support.MethodSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 patients and eight physiotherapists after the 6-month follow-up of the randomised trial. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed.ResultsAccording to both patients and physiotherapists, the physiotherapist visits were useful in providing personal attention, helping patients safely execute exercises, and improving patients’ adherence to therapy. Some patients said they did not need physiotherapist support and, according to physiotherapists, both the necessity and the optimal way to deliver guidance differed greatly between patients. The Vertigo Training website and exercises provided patients with a sense of control over their symptoms. Patients reported that the VR exercises were easy to perform and most patients continued to use them long after the trial ended.ConclusionIn blended VR, physiotherapeutic visits appear to offer benefits above the vertigo training website and VR exercises alone. Physiotherapy support may best be used when individually tailored.


BJGP Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. BJGPO.2021.0036
Author(s):  
Andrew Turner ◽  
Anne Scott ◽  
Jeremy Horwood ◽  
Chris Salisbury ◽  
Rachel Denholm ◽  
...  

BackgroundIn March 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic required a rapid reconfiguration of UK general practice to minimise face-to-face contact with patients to reduce infection risk. However, some face-to-face contact remained necessary and practices needed to ensure such contact could continue safely.AimTo examine how practices determined when face-to-face contact was necessary and how face-to-face consultations were reconfigured to reduce COVID-19 infection risk.Design & settingQualitative interview study in general practices in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.MethodLongitudinal semi-structured interviews with clinical and managerial practice staff at four timepoints between May and July 2020.ResultsPractices worked flexibly within general national guidance to determine when face-to-face contact with patients was necessary, influenced by knowledge of the patient, experience, and practice resilience. For example, practices prioritised patients according to clinical need using face-to-face contact to resolve clinician uncertainty or provide adequate reassurance to patients. To make face-to-face contact as safe as possible and keep patients separated, practices introduced a heterogeneous range of measures that exploited features of their indoor and outdoor spaces and altered their appointment processes. As national restrictions eased in June and July, the number and proportion of patients seen face-to-face generally increased. However, the reconfiguration of buildings and processes reduced the available capacity and put increased pressure on practices.ConclusionPractices responded rapidly and creatively to the initial lockdown restrictions. The variety of ways practices organised face-to-face contact to minimise infection highlights the need for flexibility in guidance.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marijke Labots-Vogelesang ◽  
Rachel Kooiman Andringa ◽  
Doreth A M Teunissen ◽  
Antoine LM Lagro Janssen

Abstract BMWH-D-18-00422 A women’s perspective on premenstrual syndrome: a qualitative interview study Abstract Background: Women who present with Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) to healthcare professionals experience a lot of problems on their psychosocial functioning. Little is known however about the influence of PMS on the daily life of women in the general population. The aim of the present study is to improve our understanding of the perspective of women with PMS in the general population. Methods: We recruited women with PMS via local newspapers and social media. We performed semi-structured interviews. Results: We interviewed twenty women between 27 and 49 years of age. Physical and in particular psychological symptoms of PMS have a strong influence on the quality of life of women. Three themes emerged from our analysis. Women mentioned disturbance in their preferred roles of being a good mother and wife; experienced PMS as a life controlling condition and they used active and passive coping strategies with different expectations of healthcare. Conclusion: The symptoms of PMS affect women at the level of their social role of femininity. These women are in need of acknowledgement and support as well from family and friends as from healthcare providers. Word count: 3772 (abstract 211) Keywords: Premenstrual Syndrome, Women’s Health, Social Role, Femininity, Interview, Coping, Acknowledgement


2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (690) ◽  
pp. e36-e44
Author(s):  
Kirsty Payne ◽  
Elizabeth Walton ◽  
Christopher Burton

BackgroundThe popularity of social prescribing has grown in recent years following a series of high-profile recommendations in scientific reviews, political reports, and media coverage. Social prescribing has the potential to address multiple health and social problems, but few studies have examined how it works.AimTo explore the ways by which social prescribing may be beneficial to individuals undertaking socially prescribed activity (SPA).Design and settingA qualitative interview study involving people attending a range of SPA.MethodParticipants were purposively recruited from a multi-activity social prescribing provider. Data were collected using semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Analysis used a thematic approach, in which emerging themes were contextualised with interview transcripts and findings from existing literature.ResultsThe study identified five themes, which together formed a journey of engagement and participation. While not always present for any one individual, the themes occurred in a consistent order: receiving professional support for social problems; engaging with others through participation in SPA; learning different ways to relate to other people and developing new skills; changing perceptions by realising personal assets and becoming open to the possibility of new futures; and developing a positive outlook on the present while moving forwards in pursuit of future goals and better health.ConclusionSPA appears to benefit individuals by a process that begins with personalised professional help to address social problems and moves through engagement with activities and others, to the recognition of personal and social assets and opportunities.


BJGP Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. bjgpopen19X101654
Author(s):  
Robert Goldsmith ◽  
Nefyn Howard Williams ◽  
Fiona Wood

BackgroundSeveral pathological processes contribute to lumbar radicular pain (LRP), commonly known as sciatica. It is not known how patients rationalise the experience of sciatica or understand the diagnosis. Providing clinicians with a better understanding of how patients conceptualise sciatica will help them to tailor information for patients on the management and treatment of the condition.AimTo understand patients’ beliefs regarding their illness following a diagnosis of LRP, how these beliefs were developed, and the impact of illness beliefs on treatment beliefs.Design & settingQualitative interview study from a single NHS musculoskeletal interface service (in Wales, UK).MethodThirteen patients recently diagnosed with LRP were consecutively recruited. Individual semi-structured interviews were recorded and transcribed. Data were analysed using a thematic approach.ResultsFour main themes were generated: (1) the illness experience (2) the concept of sciatica, (3) treatment beliefs, and (4) the desire for credible information.ConclusionThe diagnosis of LRP is often communicated and understood within a compressive conceptual illness identity. Explaining symptoms with a compressive pathological model is easily understood by patients but may not accurately reflect the spectrum of pathological processes known to contribute to radicular pain. This model appears to inform patient beliefs about treatments. Clinicians should take care to fully explain the pathology prior to shared decision-making with patients.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Bräutigam Ewe ◽  
Cathrine Hildingh ◽  
Jörgen Månsson ◽  
Marie Lydell

Abstract Background: A primary health care centre (PHCC) is often the first point of contact for overweight patients, and nurses play key roles in overweight and lifestyle management. Since overweight is an increasing problem and a challenge for PHCCs to handle, it is important to describe primary care nurses' perceptions and experience with overweight problems, as well as their visions and attitudes regarding working with lifestyle issues. Methods: This was a qualitative interview study. Thirteen nurses in PHCCs in the southwest of Sweden were interviewed with a semi-structured, face-to-face guide. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The nurses had a wish and a willingness to work more with overweight and lifestyle issues than they currently did due to a lack of priority, resources, time and education. They experienced overweight as an increasing problem and felt that society should do more to stop its development. They considered that meeting with the patient was the most important task at PHCCs. How the conversations were structured without pointers and in an individualized manner was crucial for weight management to strengthen the patients’ motivation to change. The nurses experienced that how to use and implement guidelines was unclear. They also asked for a national forum in Sweden for nurses working with overweight and lifestyle issues with lectures about the latest research in the area. Conclusions: The nurses considered overweight to be a complex condition that requires a holistic approach with individualized care. To make this approach possible, a wider range of efforts should be offered to patients through more group meetings, lectures, and digital solutions. The development of a multidisciplinary team with different professions working with this patient group was the nurses’ dream scenario. They wished for a preventive reception for pre-diabetic patients to save costs and suffering. Informing parents earlier about a healthy lifestyle at childcare centres in PHCCs and offering health examinations to promote preventive work were seen as good ideas. Implementing these suggestions in working with overweight and lifestyle issues could be a discussion among the management in PHCCs and for the decision makers in the region.


2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (689) ◽  
pp. e819-e826
Author(s):  
Alice Tompson ◽  
Brian D Nicholson ◽  
Sue Ziebland ◽  
Julie Evans ◽  
Clare Bankhead

BackgroundSafety netting is a diagnostic strategy that involves monitoring patients with symptoms possibly indicative of serious illness, such as cancer, until they are resolved. Optimising safety-netting practice in primary care has been proposed to improve quality of care and clinical outcomes. Introducing guidelines is a potential means to achieve this.AimTo seek the insight of frontline GPs regarding proposed safety-netting guidelines for suspected cancer in UK primary care.Design and settingA qualitative interview study with 25 GPs practising in Oxfordshire, UK.MethodTranscripts from semi-structured interviews were analysed thematically by a multidisciplinary research team using a mind-mapping approach.ResultsGPs were supportive of initiatives to optimise safety netting. Guidelines on establishing who has responsibility for follow-up, keeping patient details up to date, and ensuring test result review is conducted by someone with knowledge of cancer guidelines were already being followed. Sharing diagnostic uncertainty and ensuring an up-to-date understanding of guidelines were only partially implemented. Neither informing patients of all (including negative) test results nor ensuring recurrent unexplained symptoms are always flagged and referred were considered feasible. The lack of detail, for example, the expected duration of symptoms, caused some concern. Overall, doubts were expressed about the feasibility of the guidelines given the time, recruitment, and resource challenges faced in UK primary care.ConclusionGPs expressed general support for safety netting, yet were unconvinced that key elements of the guidelines were feasible, especially in the context of pressures on general practice staffing and time.


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