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GPs' experience of managing chronic pain in a South Asian community : a qualitative study of the consultation process

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Patel, Shilpa, Peacock, S. M., McKinley, R. K., Clark-Carter, D. and Watson, P. J.. (2008) GPs' experience of managing chronic pain in a South Asian community : a qualitative study of the consultation process. Family Practice, Vol.25 (No.2). pp. 71-77. ISSN 0263-2136

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmn012

Abstract

Background. Chronic pain is one of the most common reasons for seeking primary care consultations. GPs' experience of managing patients with pain from a multicultural community has not previously been examined.

Objectives. We explored GPs' experiences of managing patients with chronic pain from a South Asian community in Leicester.

Methods. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with GPs from practices in two primary care trusts within Leicester. Eighteen GPs (11 males and 7 females) were interviewed in this study.

Results. Several emerging themes were identified from the data including consulting behaviour, presentation of pain, GPs personal challenges, psychosomatic interpretations and communication. Overall, GPs find that managing South Asian patients with chronic pain can be challenging as a consequence of the way in which patients present with pain. Difficulties for GPs were created not only by language differences but also by cultural differences, which were not seen in second or third generation South Asians. GPs felt that self-management was difficult to address, and compliance with medication difficult to determine. In such consultations, GPs perceived that patients were more likely to present with psychosomatic symptoms.

Conclusions. Cultural influences play an important role in the consultation process where patients' behaviour is often bound in their cultural view of health care. Patients' presentation of their condition makes diagnosis difficult but can also lead to miscommunication. Whether South Asian people are more likely to present mental health problems as chronic pain is not clear and warrants further investigation.

Item Type:

Journal Article

Subjects:

D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain
R Medicine > R Medicine (General)

Divisions:

Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences
Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):

South Asians -- Medical care -- England -- Research, Chronic pain, Physician and patient -- Social aspects -- England -- Research, Medical consultation -- Social aspects -- England -- Research, Pain -- Treatment -- England -- Research

Journal or Publication Title:

Family Practice

Publisher:

Oxford University Press

ISSN:

0263-2136

Official Date:

April 2008

Dates:

Date	Event
April 2008	Published

Volume:

Vol.25

Number:

No.2

Page Range:

pp. 71-77

Identification Number:

10.1093/fampra/cmn012

Status:

Peer Reviewed

Publication Status:

Published

Access rights to Published version:

Restricted or Subscription Access

Version or Related Resource:

Patel, S., Peacock, S.M., McKinley, Clark Carter, D. and Watson, P.J. (2009). GPs' perceptions of the service needs of South Asian people with chronic pain : a qualitative enquiry. Journal of Health Psychology, 14(7), pp. 909-918.

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