Patients' experiences of being touched by their general practitioner: a qualitative study.
general medicine (see internal medicine)
primary care
public health
Journal
BMJ open
ISSN: 2044-6055
Titre abrégé: BMJ Open
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101552874
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
31 07 2023
31 07 2023
Historique:
medline:
2
8
2023
pubmed:
1
8
2023
entrez:
31
7
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
This study aimed to explore patients' experiences and perceptions of touch, as practised by their general practitioner during their medical appointment. Qualitative study using grounded theory method, based on individual interviews. Data collection and analysis occurred iteratively; themes were identified using constant comparison. Recruitment among general practitioners' private practices and health centres in Ile-de-France. Twenty-one patients aged 19-88 years old, interviewed between June 2018 and May 2019. Physical examination was described as a ritual enabling the establishment of patients' and doctors' roles, the verification of the doctor's skills and the construction of a caring experience. Touch was also a media for the doctor to exercise power that the patient authorised. Finally, it had relational and emotional value. Physical examination is so internalised by the patients that it becomes unquestionable. It may be inappropriate when this touch does not belong to physical examination or on the contrary represents a proof of the doctor's humanity. The patient is not necessarily aware of the relational dimension that underpins touching and, in particular, clinical examination. This raises the question of why should doctor use it and how they can communicate about it, so that it may become an active tool in favour of trust and the construction of the relationship.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37524558
pii: bmjopen-2023-071701
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071701
pmc: PMC10391798
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e071701Informations de copyright
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Competing interests: None declared.
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