Referring patients to counsellors in primary care: qualitative investigation of general practitioners' perceptions
Referring patients to counsellors in primary care: qualitative investigation of general practitioners' perceptions
Despite growing evidence of the effectiveness of counselling in primary care, questions arise concerning the role of general practitioners in the referral process. This involves both liaison with counsellors and the management of people who do not wish to see counsellors. Respondents (n=23) in this qualitative study of general practitioners' perceptions were clear about which patients should be referred to counsellors, based on guidelines. Additionally, these doctors perceived their role and skills as negotiating with their patients about referral to a counsellor, and managing patients who are either waiting to see a counsellor or who prefer not to see a counsellor. These doctors feel inadequately trained in managing this latter group, whose outcome they perceive as unclear. Despite this, respondents accept a role in ongoing support for their patients with consequent training issues for doctors and opportunities for liaison and mentoring by counsellors
counselling, primary care, doctor's role, referral, GP patient relationship, patients who refuse referral to counsellors
133-137
Cocksedge, Simon
64ac9c29-9e1b-410d-b643-26a608a0c636
May, Carl
17697f8d-98f6-40d3-9cc0-022f04009ae4
June 2006
Cocksedge, Simon
64ac9c29-9e1b-410d-b643-26a608a0c636
May, Carl
17697f8d-98f6-40d3-9cc0-022f04009ae4
Cocksedge, Simon and May, Carl
(2006)
Referring patients to counsellors in primary care: qualitative investigation of general practitioners' perceptions.
Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 6 (2), .
(doi:10.1080/14733140600704398).
Abstract
Despite growing evidence of the effectiveness of counselling in primary care, questions arise concerning the role of general practitioners in the referral process. This involves both liaison with counsellors and the management of people who do not wish to see counsellors. Respondents (n=23) in this qualitative study of general practitioners' perceptions were clear about which patients should be referred to counsellors, based on guidelines. Additionally, these doctors perceived their role and skills as negotiating with their patients about referral to a counsellor, and managing patients who are either waiting to see a counsellor or who prefer not to see a counsellor. These doctors feel inadequately trained in managing this latter group, whose outcome they perceive as unclear. Despite this, respondents accept a role in ongoing support for their patients with consequent training issues for doctors and opportunities for liaison and mentoring by counsellors
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Published date: June 2006
Keywords:
counselling, primary care, doctor's role, referral, GP patient relationship, patients who refuse referral to counsellors
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Local EPrints ID: 163541
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/163541
ISSN: 1473-3145
PURE UUID: efcc0d30-07bb-4c1e-ba30-3548c3a37f8f
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Date deposited: 13 Sep 2010 11:26
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:05
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Author:
Simon Cocksedge
Author:
Carl May
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