The experiences of remote consulting for people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and fibromyalgia in primary care
The experiences of remote consulting for people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and fibromyalgia in primary care
Background: restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a sudden shift to a predominantly remote consulting model in primary care from March 2020. Little evidence exists examining the experience of remote consulting for people living with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) or fibromyalgia, with the current literature focusing on the challenges faced by clinicians and people living with these conditions. Clinical guidance highlights the importance of building therapeutic relationships and personalising care, but it is unclear how this translates into a remote or virtual consulting space.
Aim: to explore how people living with CFS/ME and fibromyalgia experience remote consulting with a primary care clinician, including synchronous and asynchronous methods, that is, e-consultation platforms, email, video, and telephone.
Method: semi-structured interviews are being recorded and analysed thematically using a Foucauldian theoretical framework. Participants have been recruited across the West Midlands from a range of backgrounds.
Results: recruitment is still ongoing. Preliminary analysis indicates that remote consulting is acceptable for these groups of patients, but only if they feel validated, listened to, and with a clinician who considers a holistic view with continuity of care.
Conclusion: remote consulting has presented new challenges for primary care, and it is important to identify which groups of patients are most suited. This study explores the views from a group of patients that are associated with some complexity, and complements the literature that explores the ability to deliver relationship-based care when consulting digitally/remotely. Recommendations from the findings will be created for use by patients and clinicians alike.
Leach, Helen
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Atherton, Helen
9bb8932e-7bb7-4781-ab97-114613de99b1
Eccles, Abi
a4b3ae4d-5f92-405d-a8f1-b90ec4eb85cf
Chew-Graham, Carolyn
530beade-2b1c-4eea-846f-1fcef0585ca5
Leach, Helen
903b1c8e-d29f-4618-9580-c7b0ad0fd7df
Atherton, Helen
9bb8932e-7bb7-4781-ab97-114613de99b1
Eccles, Abi
a4b3ae4d-5f92-405d-a8f1-b90ec4eb85cf
Chew-Graham, Carolyn
530beade-2b1c-4eea-846f-1fcef0585ca5
Leach, Helen, Atherton, Helen, Eccles, Abi and Chew-Graham, Carolyn
(2023)
The experiences of remote consulting for people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and fibromyalgia in primary care.
British Journal of General Practice, 73 (suppl 1).
(doi:10.3399/bjgp23X733689).
Abstract
Background: restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a sudden shift to a predominantly remote consulting model in primary care from March 2020. Little evidence exists examining the experience of remote consulting for people living with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) or fibromyalgia, with the current literature focusing on the challenges faced by clinicians and people living with these conditions. Clinical guidance highlights the importance of building therapeutic relationships and personalising care, but it is unclear how this translates into a remote or virtual consulting space.
Aim: to explore how people living with CFS/ME and fibromyalgia experience remote consulting with a primary care clinician, including synchronous and asynchronous methods, that is, e-consultation platforms, email, video, and telephone.
Method: semi-structured interviews are being recorded and analysed thematically using a Foucauldian theoretical framework. Participants have been recruited across the West Midlands from a range of backgrounds.
Results: recruitment is still ongoing. Preliminary analysis indicates that remote consulting is acceptable for these groups of patients, but only if they feel validated, listened to, and with a clinician who considers a holistic view with continuity of care.
Conclusion: remote consulting has presented new challenges for primary care, and it is important to identify which groups of patients are most suited. This study explores the views from a group of patients that are associated with some complexity, and complements the literature that explores the ability to deliver relationship-based care when consulting digitally/remotely. Recommendations from the findings will be created for use by patients and clinicians alike.
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e-pub ahead of print date: 21 July 2023
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Local EPrints ID: 487294
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/487294
ISSN: 0960-1643
PURE UUID: a6c32bc0-b778-4165-8d05-8acd0d8da718
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Date deposited: 16 Feb 2024 17:17
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 04:18
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Author:
Helen Leach
Author:
Helen Atherton
Author:
Abi Eccles
Author:
Carolyn Chew-Graham
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