Emma J Teasdale, Hazel A Everitt, Sarah L Alderson, Alexander C Ford, James Hanney, Matthew Chaddock, Emmajane Williamson, Heather Cook, Amanda J Farrin, Catherine Fernandez, Elspeth A Guthrie, Suzanne Hartley, Amy Herbert, Daniel Howdon, Delia Muir, Sonia Newman, Pei Loo Ow, Matthew J Ridd, Christopher M Taylor, Ruth Thornton, Alexandra Wright-Hughes, Felicity L Bishop
{"title":"Low-dose amitriptyline for irritable bowel syndrome: a qualitative study of patients' and GPs' views and experiences.","authors":"Emma J Teasdale, Hazel A Everitt, Sarah L Alderson, Alexander C Ford, James Hanney, Matthew Chaddock, Emmajane Williamson, Heather Cook, Amanda J Farrin, Catherine Fernandez, Elspeth A Guthrie, Suzanne Hartley, Amy Herbert, Daniel Howdon, Delia Muir, Sonia Newman, Pei Loo Ow, Matthew J Ridd, Christopher M Taylor, Ruth Thornton, Alexandra Wright-Hughes, Felicity L Bishop","doi":"10.3399/BJGP.2024.0303","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGP.2024.0303","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can cause troublesome symptoms, which impact patients' quality of life and incur considerable health service resource use. Guidelines suggest low-dose amitriptyline for IBS as second-line treatment, but this is rarely prescribed in primary care.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To explore patients' and GPs' views and experiences of using low-dose amitriptyline for IBS.</p><p><strong>Design and setting: </strong>Qualitative interview study with patients and GPs in England, nested within the ATLANTIS trial of low-dose amitriptyline versus placebo (ISRCTN48075063).</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 42 patients at 6 months post-randomisation, with 19 patients again at 12 months post-randomisation, and with 16 GPs between April 2020 and March 2022. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse patient and GP data separately, then together, to identify unique and cross-cutting themes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found concerns about amitriptyline being an antidepressant, medicalising IBS, and side effects. Perceived benefits included the low and flexible dose, ease of treatment, and familiarity of amitriptyline and its potential to offer benefits beyond IBS symptom relief. These concerns and perceived benefits were expressed in the context of desire for a novel approach to IBS: GPs were keen to offer more options for IBS and patients sought a cure for their symptoms.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Patients and GPs felt that the potential benefits of trying low-dose amitriptyline for IBS outweighed their concerns. When offering low-dose amitriptyline for IBS, GPs could address patient concerns about taking an antidepressant for IBS, highlighting the low and flexible dosage, and other potential benefits of amitriptyline such as improved sleep.</p>","PeriodicalId":55320,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of General Practice","volume":" ","pages":"e431-e439"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11920899/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142082670","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rachel Ann Spencer, Zakia Shariff, Jeremy Dale, Graeme Currie
{"title":"Safety issues in post-discharge care of older patients in general practice: an ethnographic study.","authors":"Rachel Ann Spencer, Zakia Shariff, Jeremy Dale, Graeme Currie","doi":"10.3399/BJGP.2024.0284","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGP.2024.0284","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Post-inpatient discharge is a risky time for older patients, especially those with polypharmacy and multimorbidity. General practice care at this time, including the processes for managing hospital discharge summaries, lacks standardisation and is of variable quality. Understanding these processes will support the design of interventions and guidance to improve general practice management of the post-discharge period.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To understand and visualise how ongoing care for older people after discharge from hospital is organised in general practice, including the processes for managing discharge summaries.</p><p><strong>Design and setting: </strong>Rapid ethnography study in 10 general practices in the West Midlands, England.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We mapped the practices' systems of post-discharge care. Data sources included informal conversations with staff, practice policies, and direct observations of discharge summary handling. Fieldnotes and quotes were subject to an interpretivist framework analysis. A systems modelling technique (the Functional Resonance Analysis Method) was used to present visual representations of the professional roles working in these complex systems.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three basic typographies of system emerged based on professional roles: GP-led, pharmacist-led, and administrative-led. We report on three themes that weave around the Functional Resonance Analysis Method process maps: comfort with demands of administrative role; general practice team dynamics; and interaction with patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>General practice systems for inpatient discharge summary processing are complex and varied. New roles in general practices are being used extensively, often requiring significant input in supervision by GPs. Our findings highlight safety features of different systems and should help practices understand the advantages and limitations of models they work within.</p>","PeriodicalId":55320,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of General Practice","volume":" ","pages":"e412-e422"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12117506/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143016760","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Louisa Polak, Kristian Pollock, Stephen Barclay, Ben Bowers
{"title":"How changes in GPs' ways of working have affected community nurses: a qualitative study.","authors":"Louisa Polak, Kristian Pollock, Stephen Barclay, Ben Bowers","doi":"10.3399/BJGP.2024.0534","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGP.2024.0534","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>A growing literature examines the way two changes in primary care - the shift towards remote working and the diversification of practice teams to incorporate, for instance, physician associates and paramedics - affect patient care within the practice. However, little is known about the effect of these changes on community nurses.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To explore community nurses' experiences of delivering palliative care in the context of GPs' new ways of working.</p><p><strong>Design and setting: </strong>Qualitative study using focus groups in the UK.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Focus groups were conducted on Zoom with community nurses. Data were analysed thematically using constant comparison.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Community nurses described extending their roles in palliative care. Alongside pride and satisfaction about this, participants raised several areas of concern and dissatisfaction, some of which they associated with changes in GPs' ways of working. Two reasons for dissatisfaction concerned remote working. First, remote communication with colleagues was seen as creating obstacles to nurses' everyday collaboration with GPs, damaging important working relationships. Second, nurses increased their workload by taking the lead in person-centred care where they saw remote provision by GPs as unsatisfactory. Where workforce diversification led to delegating home visits to paramedics or nurse practitioners, community nurses described feeling a lack of the 'GP back-up' that many identified as essential for community palliative care.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>When considering and evaluating interventions that change the way GPs work, policymakers and commissioners should look not only at consequences that affect primary care teams, but also at the effects across the complex ecosystem within which these teams operate.</p>","PeriodicalId":55320,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of General Practice","volume":" ","pages":"e406-e411"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12070296/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143069615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jennifer Newbould, Carol Bryce, Stephanie Stockwell, Bethan Treadgold, John Campbell, Christine Marriott, Emma Pitchforth, Laura Sheard, Rachel Winder, Helen Atherton
{"title":"Supporting patients to use online services in general practice: focused ethnographic case study.","authors":"Jennifer Newbould, Carol Bryce, Stephanie Stockwell, Bethan Treadgold, John Campbell, Christine Marriott, Emma Pitchforth, Laura Sheard, Rachel Winder, Helen Atherton","doi":"10.3399/BJGP.2024.0137","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGP.2024.0137","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In England online services in general practice encompass a range of provision from ordering repeat medication to having a consultation. Some groups of individuals may find accessing and/or using such services difficult and may require 'digital facilitation', that is the range of processes, procedures, and personnel which seeks to support NHS patients in their uptake and use of online services.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To gain insight, from the perspective of general practice staff and patients/carers, into how and why digital facilitation might lead to benefits, and the key processes involved in supporting patients to use online services.</p><p><strong>Design and setting: </strong>Eight general practices across England with varied geographical and sociodemographic characteristics were included in the study.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This was a focused ethnographic case study of observations and interviews (<i>N</i> = 69).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Typically, digital facilitation was delivered in an <i>ad hoc</i> fashion to individual patients. Online services were delivered via multiple systems each working differently and creating a need for support so that patients could access them. Younger practice staff were expected to deliver support on account of their age, despite there being no evidence of age-related training and experience. It was understood by practice staff that patients with challenging personal circumstances may require specific support to access online services.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>At present patient use of online services is supported by digital facilitation that is primarily delivered by reception staff. Supporting patients to use online services requires review of how many services are provided and what for, and consideration for the time and effort needed to support patients to use them.</p>","PeriodicalId":55320,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of General Practice","volume":" ","pages":"e382-e389"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11920896/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142689779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Heather James, Sophie Smith, Dheeraj Rai, Iryna Culpin, Katrina Turner
{"title":"Making decisions about antidepressant use during pregnancy: a qualitative interview study of a sample of women in the UK.","authors":"Heather James, Sophie Smith, Dheeraj Rai, Iryna Culpin, Katrina Turner","doi":"10.3399/BJGP.2024.0068","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGP.2024.0068","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>An increasing number of pregnant women now take antidepressants. Many pregnant women experience decisional conflict when deciding whether to take antidepressants, but little is known about the attitudes and experiences that influence these decisions.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To explore the attitudes and experiences influencing women's decisions about antenatal antidepressant use.</p><p><strong>Design and setting: </strong>A qualitative study using in-depth interviews with a sample of UK women who experienced antenatal depression or took antidepressants antenatally within the preceding 3 years.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Recruitment adverts were placed by a perinatal mental health charity and on parenting forums and social media platforms, resulting in a convenience sample. Interview data were coded and analysed with thematic analysis using QSR NVivo.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-two women were interviewed; one-half had taken antidepressants during pregnancy. Most women had concerns about adverse effects and viewed antidepressants as adjunctive to non-pharmacological treatments, which were reported as difficult to access. Some women reported that professional advice was insufficiently detailed. Women described the need to cope with their symptoms, their baby, and existing responsibilities, and related their decisions to their perceived ability to cope. This perception was influenced by physical and emotional challenges relating to pregnancy. Women's decisions were influenced by their previous experiences and by the perceived societal expectations placed on pregnant women.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Decision making is a complex and dynamic process, personal to each woman's circumstances. Perceived ability to cope is an important factor in decision making. Detailed information should be offered to women for support with decision making in relation to antenatal medication use.</p>","PeriodicalId":55320,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of General Practice","volume":" ","pages":"e440-e447"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966528/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142395486","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christina Dobson, Adam Biran, Colin Rees, Willie Hamilton, Christian von Wagner, John Whelpton, Linda Sharp
{"title":"Practitioner perspectives on symptomatic faecal immunochemical testing in the UK: a qualitative interview study.","authors":"Christina Dobson, Adam Biran, Colin Rees, Willie Hamilton, Christian von Wagner, John Whelpton, Linda Sharp","doi":"10.3399/BJGP.2024.0358","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGP.2024.0358","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) is now core to the management of patients presenting in primary care with symptoms of possible colorectal cancer. Patients with a positive FIT (≥10 μg haemoglobin [Hb]/g faeces) qualify for an urgent suspected cancer referral. FIT-negative patients are typically managed in primary care or referred through routine pathways.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To examine practitioners' experiences of delivering symptomatic FIT, identifying perceived benefits, disbenefits, and implementation issues, to inform potential future service improvements.</p><p><strong>Design and setting: </strong>A qualitative interview study with primary and secondary care health professionals involved in delivering symptomatic FIT pathways from across the UK.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals from a range of specialties. An iterative topic guide informed interviews while allowing freedom to explore novel lines of enquiry. Pseudo-anonymised transcripts were coded, and themes were identified and developed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Symptomatic FIT was seen to be beneficial for increasing confidence in clinical decision making and enriching the pool of patients being definitively investigated for colorectal neoplasia. There were varying views on the impact of symptomatic FIT on workload with the burden of additional workload generally seen to impact primary care. Concerns about current practice included overuse of FIT, burden of investigations in patients with false-positive results, and diagnostic delays for both cancer and benign disease. Uncertainties existed around management of patients with rectal bleeding, appropriate strategies for safety netting, and the value of repeat FIT.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Symptomatic FIT is largely seen as beneficial; however, health professionals would welcome further evidence and guidance around optimal application.</p>","PeriodicalId":55320,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of General Practice","volume":" ","pages":"e390-e396"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12070297/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143043416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Globus: a practical guide for general practice.","authors":"Alex Watson, Rakesh Chopra, Anand Muddaiah","doi":"10.3399/bjgp25X741573","DOIUrl":"10.3399/bjgp25X741573","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55320,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of General Practice","volume":"75 754","pages":"237-238"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12040374/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144043317","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Is NICE failing to prioritise environmentally sustainable health care?","authors":"Emma Radcliffe, Sophie von Heimendahl","doi":"10.3399/bjgp25X741453","DOIUrl":"10.3399/bjgp25X741453","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55320,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of General Practice","volume":"75 754","pages":"219"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12040349/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144063306","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Books: <i>GPs, Politics and Medical Professional Protest in Britain, 1880-1948</i>: A history of GPs' concerns about workload, funding, and threats to independence.","authors":"Richard Vautrey","doi":"10.3399/bjgp25X741513","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp25X741513","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55320,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of General Practice","volume":"75 754","pages":"226-227"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12040356/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144059218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Primary care: the 'linchpin' in Lynch syndrome.","authors":"Kelly E Lloyd, Sarah Alderson","doi":"10.3399/bjgp25X741345","DOIUrl":"10.3399/bjgp25X741345","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55320,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of General Practice","volume":"75 754","pages":"198-199"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12040350/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143998165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}