INSIGHTS FROM GENERAL PRACTITIONERS: TEACHING PRACTICES TO UNDERSTAND AND MANAGE MEDICALLY UNEXPLAINED SYMPTOMS

Abstract

It is common for general practitioners to see patients with medically unexplained symptoms. It is not well agreed on what diagnostic frameworks to use to describe them, despite the fact that they share a number of traits. When GPs are trying to understand a patient's condition, they use medically unexplained symptoms. A semistructured interview process was used with 24 general practitioners in the study. Each participant discussed a case of medically unexplained symptoms and the assessment and management. Participants in the study were general practitioners from teaching practices. Transcribed interviews were conducted with participants selected by means of a purposeful sampling technique. Iterative analysis was based on constructivist grounded theory. Medically unexplained symptoms were understood and managed by GPs using a variety of frameworks. Despite their differing frameworks, they used similar reasoning, communicated with other health professionals, and attempted to understand patients' suffering. As stigmatizing labels apply a 'layer of dismissal' to patients, stigmatizing labels such as 'borderline personality disorder' are detrimental to them. Consequently, they paid attention to physical cues in some consultations and focused on symptom management when they couldn't explain them with medical science. The team also avoided creating an uncoordinated cycle of care through avoiding referrals. As a result, general practitioners help protect their patients with mental illnesses from stigma by understanding the ethical implications of diagnosing them. Narratives crafted by patients shaped their suffering. The role of general practitioners in identifying and managing medically unexplained symptoms remained important.