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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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
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.
Related URLs:	Related item in WRAP
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/36998

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

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