Development of the EMAP tool facilitating existential communication between general practitioners and cancer patients

TY - JOUR

T1 - Development of the EMAP tool facilitating existential communication between general practitioners and cancer patients

AU - Assing Hvidt, Elisabeth

AU - Gilså Hansen, Dorte

AU - Ammentorp, Jette

AU - Bjerrum, Lars

AU - Cold, Søren

AU - Gulbrandsen, Pål

AU - Olesen, Frede

AU - Pedersen, Susanne S.

AU - Søndergaard, Jens

AU - Timmermann, Connie

AU - Timm, Helle

AU - Hvidt, Niels Christian

PY - 2017/8/10

Y1 - 2017/8/10

N2 - Background: General practice recognizes the existential dimension as an integral part of multidimensional patient care alongside the physical, psychological and social dimensions. However, general practitioners (GPs) report substantial barriers related to communication with patients about existential concerns. Objectives: To describe the development of the EMAP tool facilitating communication about existential problems and resources between GPs and patients with cancer. Methods: A mixed-methods design was chosen comprising a literature search, focus group interviews with GPs and patients (n = 55) and a two-round Delphi procedure initiated by an expert meeting with 14 experts from Denmark and Norway. Results: The development procedure resulted in a semi-structured tool containing suggestions for 10 main questions and 13 sub-questions grouped into four themes covering the existential dimension. The tool utilized the acronym and mnemonic EMAP (existential communication in general practice) indicating the intention of the tool: to provide a map of possible existential problems and resources that the GP and the patient can discuss to find points of reorientation in the patient’s situation. Conclusion: This study resulted in a question tool that can serve as inspiration and help GPs when communicating with cancer patients about existential problems and resources. This tool may qualify GPs’ assessment of existential distress, increase the patient’s existential well-being and help deepen the GP–patient relationship.

AB - Background: General practice recognizes the existential dimension as an integral part of multidimensional patient care alongside the physical, psychological and social dimensions. However, general practitioners (GPs) report substantial barriers related to communication with patients about existential concerns. Objectives: To describe the development of the EMAP tool facilitating communication about existential problems and resources between GPs and patients with cancer. Methods: A mixed-methods design was chosen comprising a literature search, focus group interviews with GPs and patients (n = 55) and a two-round Delphi procedure initiated by an expert meeting with 14 experts from Denmark and Norway. Results: The development procedure resulted in a semi-structured tool containing suggestions for 10 main questions and 13 sub-questions grouped into four themes covering the existential dimension. The tool utilized the acronym and mnemonic EMAP (existential communication in general practice) indicating the intention of the tool: to provide a map of possible existential problems and resources that the GP and the patient can discuss to find points of reorientation in the patient’s situation. Conclusion: This study resulted in a question tool that can serve as inspiration and help GPs when communicating with cancer patients about existential problems and resources. This tool may qualify GPs’ assessment of existential distress, increase the patient’s existential well-being and help deepen the GP–patient relationship.

KW - communication

KW - General practice/family medicine

KW - palliative and terminal care

KW - patient involvement

KW - quality of care

U2 - 10.1080/13814788.2017.1326479

DO - 10.1080/13814788.2017.1326479

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28799437

AN - SCOPUS:85027308946

SN - 1381-4788

VL - 23

SP - 261

EP - 268

JO - European Journal of General Practice

JF - European Journal of General Practice

IS - 1

ER -