Universität zu Köln

Heinbokel, Christina, Lehmann, Marco, Pohontsch, Nadine Janis, Zimmermann, Thomas, Althaus, Astrid, Scherer, Martin and Loewe, Bernd (2017). Diagnostic barriers for somatic symptom disorders in primary care: study protocol for a mixed methods study in Germany. BMJ Open, 7 (8). LONDON: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP. ISSN 2044-6055

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Abstract

Introduction Somatoform or somatic symptom disorders ((S)SD) are common and have a negative impact on the patients' health-related quality of life, healthcare use and costs. In primary care, which is central to the management of (S) SD, diagnosis and treatment tend to be delayed. There is a significant lack of evidence regarding the barriers in the diagnostic process of (S) SD in primary care and how interventions should be tailored to address them. The aim of this study is to analyse the diagnostic process in primary care that results in the diagnosis or non-diagnosis of a (S) SD. Methods and analysis This mixed methods study will investigate the topic with qualitative methods, subsequently proceeding to a quantitative phase where the initial results will be validated and/or generalised. First, focus groups will explore meanings and patterns, inconsistencies and conflicts in general practitioners' (GPs) thoughts and behaviours when diagnosing (S) SD. Second, the results of these focus groups will be used to develop interview guidelines for subsequent face-to-face interviews. Patients and their treating GPs will be interviewed separately on how they experience the history of illness, the diagnostic process and treatment. Third, based on the results of the first two study parts, a questionnaire will be derived and a nationwide survey among German GPs will be conducted, quantifying the barriers and difficulties identified before. Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Hamburg Medical Association, Germany (approval number PV4763). The results of this study will be disseminated through conference presentation and publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Heinbokel, Christina UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Lehmann, Marco UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Pohontsch, Nadine Janis UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Zimmermann, Thomas UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Althaus, Astrid UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Scherer, Martin UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Loewe, Bernd UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-222140
DOI:	10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014157
Journal or Publication Title:	BMJ Open
Volume:	7
Number:	8
Date:	2017
Publisher:	BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP
Place of Publication:	LONDON
ISSN:	2044-6055
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language MEDICALLY UNEXPLAINED SYMPTOMS; SOMATOFORM DISORDERS; SOMATIZATION; DEPRESSION; INTERVENTION; MANAGEMENT; EFFICACY; VALIDITY; OUTCOMES; OVERLAP Multiple languages Medicine, General & Internal Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/22214