Using a mixed method to identify communication skills training priorities for Chinese general practitioners in diabetes care
Abstract Background In China diabetes care is gradually shifting from secondary to primary care with great infrastructure investment and GP training. However, most GPs in China lack communication skills training, which is a huge obstacle in communication with their patients in primary care. In this...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Primary Care |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-022-01868-8 |
| _version_ | 1811182279422115840 |
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| author | Mi Yao Gang Yuan Kai Lin Lijuan Liu Hao Tang Jieying Xie Xinxin Ji Rongxin Wang Binkai Li Jiajia Hao Huichang Qiu Dongying Zhang Hai Li Shamil Haroon Dawn Jackson Wei Chen Kar Keung Cheng Richard Lehman |
| author_facet | Mi Yao Gang Yuan Kai Lin Lijuan Liu Hao Tang Jieying Xie Xinxin Ji Rongxin Wang Binkai Li Jiajia Hao Huichang Qiu Dongying Zhang Hai Li Shamil Haroon Dawn Jackson Wei Chen Kar Keung Cheng Richard Lehman |
| author_sort | Mi Yao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In China diabetes care is gradually shifting from secondary to primary care with great infrastructure investment and GP training. However, most GPs in China lack communication skills training, which is a huge obstacle in communication with their patients in primary care. In this study we seek to identify training priorities that is evidence-based, appropriate for the context of primary care in China, and that meet the real needs of both GPs and people with diabetes. Methods A mixed method approach was used. A conceptual framework was designed based on the MRC framework, action research and adult learning theories. Through a systematic review of the literature and qualitative research with GPs and patients with diabetes, a list of communication skills training components was developed by the research team. A modified nominal group technique (NGT) with GPs was used to evaluate these contents. Purposive sampling was used to recruit a variation of participants (age, work area, practice years and education background) from general practices in Guangzhou city, China. Eight structured nominal groups were facilitated to elicit the views of group members, and participants rated the 9-point Likert scale of importance and feasibility of the training items independently, before and after focus groups. The ranking of each item was calculated, based on the mean Likert score ratings from all participants. Video recordings of four NGT group discussions were thematically analysed using the Framework Method to explore reasons for any differences in rating items. Results 29 males and 29 female GPs from 28 general practices participated in NGT group discussions, with a mean age of 38.5 years and mean 12.3 years of practice experience. Based on the mean scores of importance and feasibility rating scores, the top 3 ranked priorities for communication training were ‘health education’ (importance 8.39, feasibility 7.67), ‘discussing and explaining blood glucose monitoring’ (8.31, 7.46), and ‘diabetes complications and cardiovascular disease risk communication’ (8.36, 7.12). Five main themes were identified from focus group discussions through qualitative analysis: ‘impact on diabetes patients’, ‘GP attitudes towards communication skills’, ‘patient-related factors influencing the application of communication skills by GPs, ‘local contextual factors’, and ‘training implementation’. Conclusions Priorities for communication skills training for Chinese GPs in diabetes care were identified. These are set in the context of GPs’ current experience of communication with patients in China who have diabetes, which is often unsatisfactory. This study describes the baseline from which better primary care for diabetes in China needs to be developed. Based on suggestions from GPs themselves, it identifies an agenda for improvement in communication as a key component of diabetes care in China. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:30:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6f886fbbae6f4116b652d5478d058327 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2731-4553 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:30:13Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Primary Care |
| spelling | doaj.art-6f886fbbae6f4116b652d5478d0583272022-12-22T04:31:55ZengBMCBMC Primary Care2731-45532022-10-0123111710.1186/s12875-022-01868-8Using a mixed method to identify communication skills training priorities for Chinese general practitioners in diabetes careMi Yao0Gang Yuan1Kai Lin2Lijuan Liu3Hao Tang4Jieying Xie5Xinxin Ji6Rongxin Wang7Binkai Li8Jiajia Hao9Huichang Qiu10Dongying Zhang11Hai Li12Shamil Haroon13Dawn Jackson14Wei Chen15Kar Keung Cheng16Richard Lehman17General Practice Department, Peking University First HospitalDepartment of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen UniversityFamily Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical CollegeDepartment of Cardiovascular, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen UniversityDepartment of General Practice, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen UniversityNanfang Hospital of Southern Medical UniversityShantou University Medical CollegeShayuan Community Health Service CentreDepartment of General Practice, Guangzhou First People’s HospitalDepartment of General Practice, Guangzhou First People’s HospitalDepartment of General Practice, Guangzhou First People’s HospitalNational Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen UniversityInstitute of Applied Health Research, University of BirminghamCollege of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of BirminghamDepartment of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen UniversityInstitute of Applied Health Research, University of BirminghamInstitute of Applied Health Research, University of BirminghamAbstract Background In China diabetes care is gradually shifting from secondary to primary care with great infrastructure investment and GP training. However, most GPs in China lack communication skills training, which is a huge obstacle in communication with their patients in primary care. In this study we seek to identify training priorities that is evidence-based, appropriate for the context of primary care in China, and that meet the real needs of both GPs and people with diabetes. Methods A mixed method approach was used. A conceptual framework was designed based on the MRC framework, action research and adult learning theories. Through a systematic review of the literature and qualitative research with GPs and patients with diabetes, a list of communication skills training components was developed by the research team. A modified nominal group technique (NGT) with GPs was used to evaluate these contents. Purposive sampling was used to recruit a variation of participants (age, work area, practice years and education background) from general practices in Guangzhou city, China. Eight structured nominal groups were facilitated to elicit the views of group members, and participants rated the 9-point Likert scale of importance and feasibility of the training items independently, before and after focus groups. The ranking of each item was calculated, based on the mean Likert score ratings from all participants. Video recordings of four NGT group discussions were thematically analysed using the Framework Method to explore reasons for any differences in rating items. Results 29 males and 29 female GPs from 28 general practices participated in NGT group discussions, with a mean age of 38.5 years and mean 12.3 years of practice experience. Based on the mean scores of importance and feasibility rating scores, the top 3 ranked priorities for communication training were ‘health education’ (importance 8.39, feasibility 7.67), ‘discussing and explaining blood glucose monitoring’ (8.31, 7.46), and ‘diabetes complications and cardiovascular disease risk communication’ (8.36, 7.12). Five main themes were identified from focus group discussions through qualitative analysis: ‘impact on diabetes patients’, ‘GP attitudes towards communication skills’, ‘patient-related factors influencing the application of communication skills by GPs, ‘local contextual factors’, and ‘training implementation’. Conclusions Priorities for communication skills training for Chinese GPs in diabetes care were identified. These are set in the context of GPs’ current experience of communication with patients in China who have diabetes, which is often unsatisfactory. This study describes the baseline from which better primary care for diabetes in China needs to be developed. Based on suggestions from GPs themselves, it identifies an agenda for improvement in communication as a key component of diabetes care in China.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-022-01868-8CommunicationTrainingGeneral practitionersDiabetes care |
| spellingShingle | Mi Yao Gang Yuan Kai Lin Lijuan Liu Hao Tang Jieying Xie Xinxin Ji Rongxin Wang Binkai Li Jiajia Hao Huichang Qiu Dongying Zhang Hai Li Shamil Haroon Dawn Jackson Wei Chen Kar Keung Cheng Richard Lehman Using a mixed method to identify communication skills training priorities for Chinese general practitioners in diabetes care BMC Primary Care Communication Training General practitioners Diabetes care |
| title | Using a mixed method to identify communication skills training priorities for Chinese general practitioners in diabetes care |
| title_full | Using a mixed method to identify communication skills training priorities for Chinese general practitioners in diabetes care |
| title_fullStr | Using a mixed method to identify communication skills training priorities for Chinese general practitioners in diabetes care |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using a mixed method to identify communication skills training priorities for Chinese general practitioners in diabetes care |
| title_short | Using a mixed method to identify communication skills training priorities for Chinese general practitioners in diabetes care |
| title_sort | using a mixed method to identify communication skills training priorities for chinese general practitioners in diabetes care |
| topic | Communication Training General practitioners Diabetes care |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-022-01868-8 |
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