Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34210272›Full record

ArticleBMC family practice2021

Making sense of symptoms, clinicians and systems: a qualitative evaluation of a facilitated support group for patients with medically unexplained symptoms.

Michelle Marcinow, Jane Sandercock, Chelsea D'Silva, David Daien, Carly Ellis, Christine Dias, Elizabeth Mansfield

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC family practice, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 28% of its field
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

2 citing papers in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. 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

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Michelle MarcinowInstitute for Better Health, Trillium Health Partners, Administrative Building - 6th Floor, 100 Queensway West, Mississauga, ON, L5B 1B8, Canada. michelle.marcinow@thp.ca.
Jane SandercockInstitute for Better Health, Trillium Health Partners, Administrative Building - 6th Floor, 100 Queensway West, Mississauga, ON, L5B 1B8, Canada.
Chelsea D'SilvaInstitute for Better Health, Trillium Health Partners, Administrative Building - 6th Floor, 100 Queensway West, Mississauga, ON, L5B 1B8, Canada.
David DaienFamily Medicine, Institute for Better Health, Trillium Health Partners, 100 Queensway West, Mississauga, ON, L5B 1B8, Canada.
Carly EllisStrategic Projects, Trillium Health Partners, 100 Queensway West, Mississauga, ON, L5B 1B8, Canada.
Christine DiasMedical Psychiatry Alliance, Trillium Health Partners, 100 Queensway West, Mississauga, ON, L5B 1B8, Canada.
Elizabeth MansfieldInstitute for Better Health, Trillium Health Partners, Administrative Building - 6th Floor, 100 Queensway West, Mississauga, ON, L5B 1B8, Canada.
Trillium Health Centre · CAUniversity of Toronto · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesHealth services to date have inadequately addressed the physical and mental health needs of patients with medically unexplained symptoms. This qualitative study evaluates a piloted facilitated support group (FSG) developed for patients with medically unexplained symptoms to inform recommendations and resources for this patient population.

methodsUsing a qualitative descriptive design, we conducted and thematically analyzed semi-structured interviews with participants (n = 8) and facilitators (n = 4) to explore their experiences of the facilitated support group. Common themes that captured strengths and challenges of the facilitated support group were identified.

resultsThe following key themes were identified through analysis of the data: Participants described 1) feeling validated through sharing similar experiences with peers; 2) learning practical symptom management and coping strategies; and 3) gaining new perspectives for navigating conversations with PCPs.

conclusionsOur findings show that a facilitated support group may provide additional forms of support and resources for patients with medically unexplained symptoms, filling a gap in currently available clinical care offered by health care professionals. Potential implications: This paper highlights lessons learned that can inform the design and delivery of future supports and resources directed toward optimizing patient care for this underserved patient population. Our findings are relevant to those who are involved in direct patient care or involved in designing and implementing self-management programs.

Indexed as

Medically Unexplained SymptomsHealth PersonnelHumansPalliative CareQualitative ResearchSelf-Help GroupsFacilitated support groupsMedically unexplained symptomsPatient experiencePatient-provider communicationQualitative researchSelf-management

Identifiers

PMID34210272
PMCPMC8252243
OpenAlexW3173455927

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.