Article Figures & Data
Tables
Characteristic Value Median age (range), years 56 (37–69) Gender, male/female, n 6/6 Median seniority (range), years 16 (1–41) Practice size 1 GP 6 2–3 GPs 5 >3 GPs 1 Practice location Semirural, <5000 4 Urban, >5000 8 Distance to Hospital <30 minutes’ drive (range, minutes) 5 (2–27) >30 minutes’ drive (range, minutes) 7 (35–51) - Table 2. Characteristics of the 36 case patients identified by the GPs and the 12 interviewed patients
Characteristic Case patients (n = 36) Interviewed patients (n = 12) Mean age (range), years 62.5 (37–81) 59.2 (37–72) Gender, male/female, n (%) 21/15 (58/42) 8/4 (67/33) Chronic conditions, n (%) Diabetes 36 (100) 12 (100) Heart disease 18 (50) 6 (50) Mental disordera 16 (44) 5 (42) Obesity 14 (39) 5 (42) Addiction 9 (25) 5 Musculoskeletal 8 (22) 4 Respiratory disease 4 (11) 1 aSuch as anxiety, bipolar disorder, and PTSD.
Thomas is a retired carpenter in his late 60s with diabetes and well-treated prostate cancer. Both his mother and sister were alcoholic and died at a younger age. He visits the GP on a regular basis and seems occupied with his health in terms of medication and monitoring blood sugar levels. However, his diabetes is badly regulated and he has significant complications in the eyes and the kidneys. The GP has tried to motivate Thomas to take better care of his diabetes in terms of eating healthier and exercising. Nonetheless, Thomas’ lifestyle is unchanged and the GP is frustrated, because the complications could have been prevented. Thomas is very happy about the collaboration with the GP. His GP feels powerless witnessing the continuing disease progression. (Dyad A) Harry is a middle-aged business man with possible bipolar disorder and periodic alcohol overuse. He also has type 2 diabetes and chronic lower back pain. Last year, Harry and his GP had disagreements about the regulation of his diabetes. Harry thought that the GP should be able to regulate the diabetes better with new medication, but the GP felt that Harry should do more to eat healthier and lose weight. For some time, they did not talk and Harry expressed his discontent to the other staff members in the general practice, but slowly the relationship was restored and Harry decides that it would not be worth finding another GP to start it all over. However, Harry explains that he has put his diabetes completely on the shelf until the mental health stuff is in place. The GP and Harry have agreed to refer him to a psychiatrist. (Dyad I)
In this issue
’Stuck or unstable’ — partnerships between GPs and patients with complex chronic conditions: A qualitative study
Jump to section
More in this TOC Section
Related Articles
Cited By...
Intended for Healthcare Professionals
