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The GP's perception of poverty: a qualitative study
Sara J Willems1, Wilfried Swinnen, Jan M De Maeseneer
1Department of General Practice and Primary Healthcare, Ghent University, Belgium. Sara.Willems@ugent.be
Family Practice
|February 16, 2005
Summary
General practitioners perceive poverty through socioeconomic, psychological, and socio-cultural lenses. Training doctors on poverty issues can improve care for deprived patients, enhancing healthcare accessibility.
Area of Science:
- Medical Sociology
- Primary Care Medicine
- Health Disparities Research
Background:
- Growing health disparities between social classes are linked to healthcare system accessibility.
- Physician perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes significantly influence patient care, especially for disadvantaged groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To understand general practitioners' (GPs) definitions of poverty.
- To explore GPs' perceptions of deprived patients' attitudes towards health and healthcare.
- To identify how GPs manage poverty-related issues and gather proposals for improving healthcare access for the deprived.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative methodology utilizing 21 semi-structured interviews with GPs in a deprived area of Ghent.
- Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using Framework Analysis.
Main Results:
- GPs conceptualize poverty through socioeconomic, psychological/individual, and socio-cultural dimensions.
- GPs employ strategies such as adapting communication, reducing financial barriers, and facilitating referrals for deprived patients.
Conclusions:
- Integrating poverty education into medical curricula and in-service training can positively influence physician attitudes towards deprived patients.
- Further research is needed to explore barriers to healthcare access for the deprived, encompassing patient experiences and provider perceptions.