Death certification and doctors' dilemmas: a qualitative study of GPs' perspectives

Death certificate inaccuracies have implications for funding and planning public health services, health research and family settlements. Improved training has been identified as a way of reducing inaccuracies. Understanding the influences on certifying doctors should inform that training.

To explore what factors influence GPs as they complete death certificates.

Focus groups held by teleconference with 16 GPs.

New Zealand general practice.

Four teleconferenced focus groups were taped and transcribed. Transcripts were examined for emerging themes. Credibility, transferability and confirmability were underwritten by a clear audit trail.

Participants identified two factors that influenced death certification: clinical uncertainty and the family. Other themes provided an understanding of the personal and professional concerns for GPs.

Improving death certification accuracy is a complex issue and needs to take into consideration factors that influence certifiers.