Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40121400›Full record

ArticleBMC primary care2025

Perceptions, approaches, and needs of Czech GPs in the management of patients with persistent somatic symptoms: the results of a nationwide cross-sectional survey.

Martin Seifert, Antonin Sebela, Tim Olde Hartman

Abstract read
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Article in BMC primary care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

3 authors.

Martin SeifertDivision of General Practice, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia. martin.seifert@lf3.cuni.cz.ORCID 0009-0003-4108-9865
Antonin SebelaDivision of General Practice, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.ORCID 0000-0002-1063-7772
Tim Olde HartmanDepartment of Primary and Community Care of the Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0003-2078-1206

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGeneral practitioners (GPs) perceive patients with persistent somatic symptoms (PSS) as frustrating and difficult to manage. Patients commonly express dissatisfaction with the care they receive and often feel stigmatised and not taken seriously. Some Czech GPs use the option of extra psychosomatic education which focuses on better understanding and management of patients with PSS.

objectivesTo explore perceptions of Czech GPs, with and without additional psychosomatic training, regarding the care of patients with PSS, their beliefs, approaches in the management, and their organisational and educational needs.

methodsA nationwide cross-sectional survey study among Czech GPs exploring experiences, perceptions, and needs in managing patients with PSS was conducted. Statistical and qualitative approaches were performed to analyse the data.

resultsA total of 152 GPs (37 with and 115 without additional psychosomatic training) participated in this survey (response rate 20,3%). GPs struggle with negative emotions, communication with patients, diagnostic uncertainty, patients' lack of understanding, the workload these patients generate, lack of specialized care, and other problems of the healthcare system. They call for more psychosomatic education and communication training. This should include theoretical explanatory models, Balint groups, and other kinds of supervision or peer groups. GPs with additional psychosomatic training feel more confident and competent caring for these patients, compared to GPs without such additional training (OR = 4.1; 95% CI = 1.85-9.11); p < 0.005). Furthermore, they view PSS patients as less burdensome (OR = 4.69; 2.11-10.4; p < 0.001).

conclusionsGPs struggle with caring for patients with PSS. GPs with additional psychosomatic education indicate that they have more confidence and competence. Czech GPs call for more time and reimbursement when caring for patients with PSS, more psychosomatic training, better availability of specialized psychosomatic care, and better interdisciplinary cooperation.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelGeneral PractitionersMedically Unexplained SymptomsAdultCross-Sectional StudiesCzech RepublicFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPhysician-Patient RelationsSurveys and QuestionnairesDiagnostic uncertaintyDoctor-patient communicationGeneral practiceMedically unexplained symptomsPersistent somatic symptomsPsychosomaticQualitative analysis

Identifiers

PMID40121400
PMCPMC11929223

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.