Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32039723›Full record

SynthesisBMC health services research2020

Working with patients suffering from chronic diseases can be a balancing act for health care professionals - a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies.

Heidi Holmen, Marie Hamilton Larsen, Merja Helena Sallinen, Lisbeth Thoresen, Birgitte Ahlsen, Marit Helen Andersen, Christine Råheim Borge, Hedda Eik, Astrid Klopstad Wahl, Anne Marit Mengshoel

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC health services research, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

13 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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  4. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine · 2025
    Article
  5. Article
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  7. Article
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  11. [Long-term physical and psychological consequences of chronic kidney disease].Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz · 2022
    Review
  12. Article
  13. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Heidi HolmenFaculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway.
Marie Hamilton LarsenFaculty of Medicine, Institute of Health and Society, Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, University of Oslo, Box 1089, Blindern, 0317, Oslo, Norway.
Merja Helena SallinenFaculty of Medicine, Institute of Health and Society, Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, University of Oslo, Box 1089, Blindern, 0317, Oslo, Norway.
Lisbeth ThoresenFaculty of Medicine, Institute of Health and Society, Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, University of Oslo, Box 1089, Blindern, 0317, Oslo, Norway.
Birgitte AhlsenFaculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway.
Marit Helen AndersenFaculty of Medicine, Institute of Health and Society, Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, University of Oslo, Box 1089, Blindern, 0317, Oslo, Norway.
Christine Råheim BorgeFaculty of Medicine, Institute of Health and Society, Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, University of Oslo, Box 1089, Blindern, 0317, Oslo, Norway.
Hedda EikFaculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway.
Astrid Klopstad WahlFaculty of Medicine, Institute of Health and Society, Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, University of Oslo, Box 1089, Blindern, 0317, Oslo, Norway.
Anne Marit MengshoelFaculty of Medicine, Institute of Health and Society, Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, University of Oslo, Box 1089, Blindern, 0317, Oslo, Norway. a.m.mengshoel@medisin.uio.no.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1800-4440

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe number of patients with long-term chronic diseases is increasing. These patients place a strain on health care systems and health care professionals (HCPs). Presently, we aimed to systematically review the literature on HCPs' experiences working with patients with long-term chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

methodA systematic search of papers published between 2002 and July 2019 was conducted in the Embase, AMED, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and COCHRANE databases to identify studies reporting qualitative interviews addressing HCPs' experiences working with adults with COPD, CKD or type 2 diabetes. An interdisciplinary research group were involved in all phases of the study. With the help of NVivo, extracts of each paper were coded, and codes were compared across papers and refined using translational analysis. Further codes were clustered in categories that in turn formed overarching themes.

resultsOur comprehensive search identified 4170 citations. Of these, 20 papers met our inclusion criteria. Regarding HCPs' experiences working with patients with COPD, CKD, or type 2 diabetes, we developed 10 sub-categories that formed three overarching main themes of work experiences: 1) individualizing one's professional approach within the clinical encounter; 2) managing one's emotions over time; 3) working to maintain professionalism. Overall these three themes suggest that HCPs' work is a complex balancing act depending on the interaction between patient and professional, reality and professional ideals, and contextual support and managing one's own emotions.

conclusionFew qualitative studies highlighted HCPs' general working experiences, as they mainly focused on the patients' experiences or HCPs' experiences of using particular clinical procedures. This study brings new insights about the complexity embedded in HCPs' work in terms of weighing different, often contrasting aspects, in order to deliver appropriate practice. Acknowledging, discussing and supporting this complexity can empower HCPs to avoid burning out. Leaders, health organizations, and educational institutions have a particular responsibility to provide HCPs with thorough professional knowledge and systematic support.

trial registrationPROSPERO number: CRD42019119052.

Indexed as

Physician-Patient RelationsChronic DiseaseHealth PersonnelHumansQualitative ResearchChronic kidney disease (CKD), patient-centered care, occupational burdenClinical encounters, diabetes mellitus, type 2Health personnelNoncommunicable disease (NCD)Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive (COPD)Work experiences

Identifiers

PMID32039723
PMCPMC7011477

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.