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Published on: November 21, 2013
GPs and involuntary admission: a qualitative study.
Britta Jepsen1, Kirsten Lomborg, Marianne Engberg
1School of Public Health, Department of General Practice, Aarhus University, Denmark. britta.jepsen@alm.au.dk
Summary
General Practitioners (GPs) find involuntary patient admissions stressful and time-consuming, risking the doctor-patient relationship. Despite unpleasantness, some professional satisfaction is achieved when admissions are successful.
Area of Science:
- General Practice
- Psychiatry
- Mental Health Law
Background:
- Involuntary psychiatric admissions are managed by medical authorities in many countries.
- There is limited understanding of General Practitioners' (GPs) experiences with these admissions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the experiences of Danish General Practitioners (GPs) involved in involuntary patient admissions.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving 13 GPs in Denmark.
- Data collected through one focus group and six individual interviews.
- GPs had recently initiated involuntary admission for their own patients.
Main Results:
- GPs reported significant stress and found the admission process time-consuming.
- The experience of sectioning patients was perceived as unpleasant and anxiety-provoking.
- While the doctor-patient relationship was seen as potentially at risk, some GPs felt it could be improved.
- GPs expressed feeling undervalued by the psychiatric system.
Conclusions:
- Involuntary admissions create a stressful and undesirable working environment for GPs.
- The emotional and procedural challenges highlight the need for improved support systems for GPs.
