How people with PPS experience accessing healthcare: Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The experiences of people with persistent physical symptoms accessing healthcare in secondary care NHS services in North Wales: A narrative inquiry
IRAS ID
327712
Contact name
Abigail Zabel
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bangor University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 30 days
Research summary
People with PPS (sometimes referred to as people with “medically unexplained symptoms” or “medically unexplained physical symptoms”) are defined in the literature as “presence of persistent bodily symptoms without an obvious cause, or that cannot be explained by recognised pathological mechanisms". This population are described as “highly prevalent” across all health settings in the NHS, accounting for around 45% of all general practice consultations and 20% of new consultations in primary care. Within the literature, it is cited that many healthcare professionals struggle to support people with PPS. There are often negative narratives surrounding this population, which likely impacts doctor-patient relationship. Evidence suggests that good doctor patient relationships are important for positive outcomes, and although some research has investigated people's experience of accessing elements of healthcare, e.g., waiting for test results etc. There is relatively little which looks at peoples experience of accessing healthcare as a whole, particularly in a UK adult setting, with no published research in a Welsh NHS setting. This research aims to address this gap and gain an understanding of what people's experiences are of accessing healthcare in North Wales for support with PPS, particularly in secondary care, and the impact this experience has on their symptoms and wellbeing. It utilises an approach which allows people to freely talk about their experiences and bring what is important for them. The hope is that findings can be used to help better support both services supporting people with PPS and people experiencing PPS themselves.
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
23/WA/0222
Date of REC Opinion
29 Aug 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion