Making the diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalitis in primary care: a qualitative study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>NICE guidelines emphasise the role of the primary care team in the management of patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalitis (CFS/ME). A key stage in effective management is making an accurate early diagnosis, support...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2010-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Family Practice |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/11/16 |
| _version_ | 1811330424045043712 |
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| author | Richardson Victoria Wearden Alison Dowrick Christopher Chew-Graham Carolyn Peters Sarah |
| author_facet | Richardson Victoria Wearden Alison Dowrick Christopher Chew-Graham Carolyn Peters Sarah |
| author_sort | Richardson Victoria |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>NICE guidelines emphasise the role of the primary care team in the management of patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalitis (CFS/ME). A key stage in effective management is making an accurate early diagnosis, supported by appropriate referral.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A nested qualitative study within a multi-centre randomised controlled trial which aimed to explore GPs' views on their role in making the diagnosis of CFS/ME and subsequent management of patients in primary care. Semi-structured interviews with 22 GPs. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and an iterative approach used to develop themes from the dataset.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>GPs described difficulties in defining CFS/ME and suggested that their role in making a diagnosis was to exclude physical causes for the patient's symptoms, but they reported little confidence in positively attributing the label of CFS/ME to a patient and their symptoms. GPs suggested that the label of CFS/ME could be potentially harmful for the patient. The role of referral to secondary care was debated and GPs struggled defining their own role in management of this group of patients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Until GPs feel comfortable making the diagnosis of CFS/ME and facilitating initial management, and have appropriate services to refer patients to, there will continue to be delays in confirming the diagnosis and patients presenting in primary care with fatigue may not receive appropriate care.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ISRCTN 74156610</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:01:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-de350b108d214b90a4974634292a7375 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2296 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:01:11Z |
| publishDate | 2010-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-de350b108d214b90a4974634292a73752022-12-22T02:40:31ZengBMCBMC Family Practice1471-22962010-02-011111610.1186/1471-2296-11-16Making the diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalitis in primary care: a qualitative studyRichardson VictoriaWearden AlisonDowrick ChristopherChew-Graham CarolynPeters Sarah<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>NICE guidelines emphasise the role of the primary care team in the management of patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalitis (CFS/ME). A key stage in effective management is making an accurate early diagnosis, supported by appropriate referral.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A nested qualitative study within a multi-centre randomised controlled trial which aimed to explore GPs' views on their role in making the diagnosis of CFS/ME and subsequent management of patients in primary care. Semi-structured interviews with 22 GPs. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and an iterative approach used to develop themes from the dataset.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>GPs described difficulties in defining CFS/ME and suggested that their role in making a diagnosis was to exclude physical causes for the patient's symptoms, but they reported little confidence in positively attributing the label of CFS/ME to a patient and their symptoms. GPs suggested that the label of CFS/ME could be potentially harmful for the patient. The role of referral to secondary care was debated and GPs struggled defining their own role in management of this group of patients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Until GPs feel comfortable making the diagnosis of CFS/ME and facilitating initial management, and have appropriate services to refer patients to, there will continue to be delays in confirming the diagnosis and patients presenting in primary care with fatigue may not receive appropriate care.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ISRCTN 74156610</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/11/16 |
| spellingShingle | Richardson Victoria Wearden Alison Dowrick Christopher Chew-Graham Carolyn Peters Sarah Making the diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalitis in primary care: a qualitative study BMC Family Practice |
| title | Making the diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalitis in primary care: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Making the diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalitis in primary care: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Making the diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalitis in primary care: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Making the diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalitis in primary care: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Making the diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalitis in primary care: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | making the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome myalgic encephalitis in primary care a qualitative study |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/11/16 |
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