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Research

General practitioners’ perceptions of best practice care at the end of life: a qualitative study

Anne Herrmann, Mariko Carey, Alison Zucca, Lucy Boyd and Bernadette Roberts
BJGP Open 2019; 3 (3): bjgpopen19X101660. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgpopen19X101660
Anne Herrmann
1 Conjoint Lecturer, Health Behaviour Research Collaborative, School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
2 Conjoint Lecturer, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
3 Affiliate, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, Australia
BA (KMW), MA (KMW), PhD (Behav Sci Med)
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  • For correspondence: anne.herrmann@uon.edu.au
Mariko Carey
4 NHMRC Boosting Dementia Leadership Fellow, Health Behaviour Research Collaborative, School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
5 NHMRC Boosting Dementia Leadership Fellow, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
6 NHMRC Boosting Dementia Leadership Fellow, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, Australia
D Psych
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Alison Zucca
7 Senior Research Officer, Health Behaviour Research Collaborative, School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
8 Senior Research Officer, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
9 Senior Research Officer, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, Australia
BA (Psych) (Hons), MMedSc, PhD
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Lucy Boyd
10 PhD Candidate, Health Behaviour Research Collaborative, School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
11 PhD Candidate, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
12 PhD Candidate, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, Australia
BPsycSci, MHM
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Bernadette Roberts
13 Senior Policy Analyst, Cancer Council New South Wales, Woolloomooloo, Australia
MHPol
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Abstract

Background GPs can play a central role in palliative care delivery. However, little is known about their views on what constitutes best practice care at the end of life.

Aim To explore, in a sample of Australian GPs, their perceptions of best practice palliative care and their ideal role in its delivery.

Design & setting A qualitative interview study of 25 GPs practising in metropolitan and non-metropolitan locations in New South Wales, Australia.

Method Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Results Participants had a mean age of 51 years, and had practised between 3 and 38 years (mean 19 years). Best practice palliative care was perceived to be proactive and responsive to a wide range of patient and family needs. Many participants indicated a need for relational continuity, which involves GPs establishing a care pathway from diagnosis to palliation, coordinating care across the pathway, and collaborating with other healthcare providers. A number of participants perceived palliative care as a natural extension of primary care and indicated that best practice palliative care mainly requires experiential knowledge and good communication skills, rather than specialised medical knowledge. Participants listed a number of communication strategies to offer patients and their families choice and ongoing negotiation about the recommended treatments.

Conclusion This study provides novel in-depth insights into GPs’ perceptions of best practice palliative care. Future research should further investigate the identified features of care, and whether they can maximise the outcomes of patients and their families.

  • Palliative care
  • general practice
  • qualitative research
  • health care delivery
  • primary health care
  • Received December 19, 2018.
  • Accepted February 21, 2019.
  • Copyright © 2019, The Authors

This article is Open Access: CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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General practitioners’ perceptions of best practice care at the end of life: a qualitative study
Anne Herrmann, Mariko Carey, Alison Zucca, Lucy Boyd, Bernadette Roberts
BJGP Open 2019; 3 (3): bjgpopen19X101660. DOI: 10.3399/bjgpopen19X101660

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General practitioners’ perceptions of best practice care at the end of life: a qualitative study
Anne Herrmann, Mariko Carey, Alison Zucca, Lucy Boyd, Bernadette Roberts
BJGP Open 2019; 3 (3): bjgpopen19X101660. DOI: 10.3399/bjgpopen19X101660
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Keywords

  • palliative care
  • General Practice
  • Qualitative research
  • health care delivery
  • primary health care

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