General practitioners' perceptions of COPD treatment: thematic analysis of qualitative interviews
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General practitioners' perceptions of COPD treatment : thematic analysis of qualitative interviews. / Molin, Katrine Rutkær; Egerod, Ingrid; Staun Valentiner, Laura; Lange, Peter; Langberg, Henning.
In: International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Vol. 11, No. 1, 17.08.2016, p. 1929-1937.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - General practitioners' perceptions of COPD treatment
T2 - thematic analysis of qualitative interviews
AU - Molin, Katrine Rutkær
AU - Egerod, Ingrid
AU - Staun Valentiner, Laura
AU - Lange, Peter
AU - Langberg, Henning
PY - 2016/8/17
Y1 - 2016/8/17
N2 - BACKGROUND: In Denmark, the treatment of COPD is mainly managed by general practitioners (GPs). Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is available to patients with COPD in the local community by GP referral, but in practice, many patients do not participate in rehabilitation. The aim of our study was to explore 1) GPs' perceptions of their role and responsibility in the rehabilitation of patients with COPD, and 2) GPs' perceptions of how patients manage their COPD.METHODS: The study was based on a qualitative design with semi-structured key-informant interviews with GPs. Investigator triangulation was applied during data generation, and analysis was done using thematic analysis methodology.RESULTS: Our main findings were that GPs relied on patients themselves to take the initiative to make clinic appointments and on professionals at health centers to provide the PR including consultations on lifestyle changes. The GPs experienced that patients chose to come to the clinic when they were in distress and that patients either declined or had poor adherence to rehabilitation when offered. The GPs were relieved that the health centers had taken over the responsibility of rehabilitation as GPs lacked the resources to discuss rehabilitation and follow up on individual plans.CONCLUSION: Our study suggested a potential self-reinforcing problem with the treatment of COPD being mainly focused on medication rather than on PR. Neither GPs nor patients used a proactive approach. Further, GPs were not fully committed to discuss non-pharmacological treatment and perceived the patients as unmotivated for PR. As such, there is a need for optimizing non-pharmacological treatment of COPD and in particular the referral process to PR.
AB - BACKGROUND: In Denmark, the treatment of COPD is mainly managed by general practitioners (GPs). Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is available to patients with COPD in the local community by GP referral, but in practice, many patients do not participate in rehabilitation. The aim of our study was to explore 1) GPs' perceptions of their role and responsibility in the rehabilitation of patients with COPD, and 2) GPs' perceptions of how patients manage their COPD.METHODS: The study was based on a qualitative design with semi-structured key-informant interviews with GPs. Investigator triangulation was applied during data generation, and analysis was done using thematic analysis methodology.RESULTS: Our main findings were that GPs relied on patients themselves to take the initiative to make clinic appointments and on professionals at health centers to provide the PR including consultations on lifestyle changes. The GPs experienced that patients chose to come to the clinic when they were in distress and that patients either declined or had poor adherence to rehabilitation when offered. The GPs were relieved that the health centers had taken over the responsibility of rehabilitation as GPs lacked the resources to discuss rehabilitation and follow up on individual plans.CONCLUSION: Our study suggested a potential self-reinforcing problem with the treatment of COPD being mainly focused on medication rather than on PR. Neither GPs nor patients used a proactive approach. Further, GPs were not fully committed to discuss non-pharmacological treatment and perceived the patients as unmotivated for PR. As such, there is a need for optimizing non-pharmacological treatment of COPD and in particular the referral process to PR.
KW - Journal Article
U2 - 10.2147/COPD.S108611
DO - 10.2147/COPD.S108611
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 27574417
VL - 11
SP - 1929
EP - 1937
JO - International Journal of COPD
JF - International Journal of COPD
SN - 1176-9106
IS - 1
ER -
ID: 165792850