Experiences of carrying out talking therapy in general practice: a qualitative interview study
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
OBJECTIVE: To explore GPs' experience of carrying out 'talking therapy'. METHODS: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 11 Danish GPs sampled purposively. The material was analysed by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. RESULTS: The participants expressed difficulty in explaining how they carried out talking therapy. However, from their description of individual therapies their perception of important aspects of methodology could be obtained: (1) their own open receptiveness, e.g. attentive listening, not limited by time; (2) relational factors including trust and empathy developed over time, or more active therapeutic use of the relationship; (3) knowledge of the patient's life story, told or written, used to form a model of the patient's problems, thoughts and feelings. The sessions were not offered if the GPs lacked time. CONCLUSION: Participants were mostly self-taught and did not use specific methods systematically despite having learnt them. GPs knew the patients beforehand; talking therapy developed from other treatment, and methodology had to fit into this. Specific methods are possibly not relevant in general practice. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Formulation of a theory of talking therapy based on the views and experience of GPs and including non-specific factors could professionalize the field.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Patient Education and Counseling |
Volume | 72 |
Issue number | 2 |
Pages (from-to) | 268-75 |
Number of pages | 7 |
ISSN | 0738-3991 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2008 |
Bibliographical note
Keywords: Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Clinical Competence; Communication; Denmark; Empathy; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Kinesics; Male; Middle Aged; Narration; Patient Education as Topic; Physician's Practice Patterns; Physician's Role; Physician-Patient Relations; Physicians, Family; Primary Health Care; Psychotherapy; Qualitative Research; Questionnaires; Time Factors; Trust
ID: 10795798