ArticleBMC family practice2014
Overcoming the barriers to the diagnosis and management of chronic fatigue syndrome/ME in primary care: a meta synthesis of qualitative studies.
Article in BMC family practice, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 33 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
33 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- A Literature Review of GP Knowledge and Understanding of ME/CFS: A Report from the Socioeconomic Working Group of the European Network on ME/CFS (EUROMENE).Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2020Pooled it
- Behavioural modification interventions for medically unexplained symptoms in primary care: systematic reviews and economic evaluation.Health technology assessment (Winchester, England) · 2020Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Meta-analysis investigating post-exertional malaise between patients and controls.Journal of health psychologyPooled it
- Making recovery conceivable: perspectives from healthcare professionals using psychologically and behaviourally informed approaches to chronic fatigue syndrome.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2026Article
- Overcoming barriers in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome research: the CureME participatory model.Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2026Article
- Patients' experiences of living with Long Covid and their beliefs about the role of psychology in their condition.Journal of health psychology · 2025Article
- Psychosocial Nursing Diagnoses of Individuals With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Descriptive Study.Nursing open · 2025Article
- 'We Don't Have to Prove to People How We're Feeling': Understanding the Role of Peer Support Groups in Countering Epistemic Injustices in Long COVID at a US Centre.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2025Article
- Assessing the influence of lived-experience experts on healthcare providers in a virtual community of practice: a qualitative study.Frontiers in health services · 2025Article
- Using Communities of Practice Theory to Understand the Crisis of Identity in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).Chronic illness · 2023Article
- A comparison of health-related factors between patients diagnosed with ME/CFS and patients with a related symptom picture but no ME/CFS diagnosis: a cross-sectional exploratory study.Journal of translational medicine · 2022Article
- "I feel like my body is broken": exploring the experiences of people living with long COVID.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2022Article
- Exploring invisibility and epistemic injustice in Long Covid-A citizen science qualitative analysis of patient stories from an online Covid community.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2022Article
- Nationwide epidemiological characteristics of chronic fatigue syndrome in South Korea.Journal of translational medicine · 2021Article
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Case Report Highlighting Diagnosing and Treatment Challenges and the Possibility of Jarisch-Herxheimer Reactions If High Infectious Loads Are Present.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Article
- Experiences of Living with Severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Article
- Sick of the Sick Role: Narratives of What "Recovery" Means to People With CFS/ME.Qualitative health research · 2021Article
- A Natural History of Disease Framework for Improving the Prevention, Management, and Research on Post-viral Fatigue Syndrome and Other Forms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.Frontiers in medicine · 2021Article
- Successful Psychological Strategies of Experienced Chronic Fatigue Patients: A Qualitative Study.Journal of patient experience · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe NICE guideline for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) emphasises the need for an early diagnosis in primary care with management tailored to patient needs. However, GPs can be reluctant to make a diagnosis and are unsure how to manage people with the condition.
methodsA meta synthesis of published qualitative studies was conducted, producing a multi-perspective description of barriers to the diagnosis and management of CFS/ME, and the ways that some health professionals have been able to overcome them. Analysis provided second-order interpretation of the original findings and developed third-order constructs to provide recommendations for the medical curriculum.
resultsTwenty one qualitative studies were identified. The literature shows that for over 20 years health professionals have reported a limited understanding of CFS/ME. Working within the framework of the biomedical model has also led some GPs to be sceptical about the existence of the condition. GPs who provide a diagnosis tend to have a broader, multifactorial, model of the condition and more positive attitudes towards CFS/ME. These GPs collaborate with patients to reach agreement on symptom management, and use their therapeutic skills to promote self care.
conclusionsIn order to address barriers to the diagnosis and management of CFS/ME in primary care, the limitations of the biomedical model needs to be recognised. A more flexible bio-psychosocial approach is recommended where medical school training aims to equip practitioners with the skills needed to understand, support and manage patients and provide a pathway to refer for specialist input.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.