TY - JOUR

T1 - Attachment in the doctorpatient relationship in general practice

T2 - A qualitative study

AU - Frederiksen, Heidi Bøgelund

AU - Kragstrup, Jakob

AU - Dehlholm-Lambertsen, Birgitte

PY - 2010/9

Y1 - 2010/9

N2 - Objective. To explore why interpersonal continuity with a regular doctor is valuable to patients. Design, setting, and subjects. A qualitative study based on 22 interviews with patients, 12 who saw their regular general practitioner (GP) and 10 who saw an unfamiliar GP. The patients were selected after an observed consultation and sampled purposively according to reason for encounter, age, and sex. The research question was answered by means of psychological theory. Results. A need for attachment was a central issue for the understanding of the value of interpersonal continuity for patients. The patients explained that they preferred to create a personal relationship with their GP and the majority expressed a degree of vulnerability in the doctorpatient relationship. The more sick or worried they were the more vulnerable and the more in need of a regular GP. Furthermore, patients stated that it was difficult for them to change GP even if they had a poor relationship. Conclusion. Attachment theory may provide an explanation for patient's need to see a regular GP. The vulnerability of being a patient creates a need for attachment to a caregiver. This need is fundamental and is activated in adults when they are sick or scared.

AB - Objective. To explore why interpersonal continuity with a regular doctor is valuable to patients. Design, setting, and subjects. A qualitative study based on 22 interviews with patients, 12 who saw their regular general practitioner (GP) and 10 who saw an unfamiliar GP. The patients were selected after an observed consultation and sampled purposively according to reason for encounter, age, and sex. The research question was answered by means of psychological theory. Results. A need for attachment was a central issue for the understanding of the value of interpersonal continuity for patients. The patients explained that they preferred to create a personal relationship with their GP and the majority expressed a degree of vulnerability in the doctorpatient relationship. The more sick or worried they were the more vulnerable and the more in need of a regular GP. Furthermore, patients stated that it was difficult for them to change GP even if they had a poor relationship. Conclusion. Attachment theory may provide an explanation for patient's need to see a regular GP. The vulnerability of being a patient creates a need for attachment to a caregiver. This need is fundamental and is activated in adults when they are sick or scared.

KW - Attachment

KW - Doctorpatient relationship

KW - Family practice

KW - Interpersonal continuity

KW - Qualitative study

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77955504071&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3109/02813432.2010.505447

DO - 10.3109/02813432.2010.505447

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 20642396

AN - SCOPUS:77955504071

VL - 28

SP - 185

EP - 190

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care

SN - 0281-3432

IS - 3

ER -