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Different approaches to understanding patients in general practice in Denmark: a qualitative study
- Authors:
- DAVIDSEN Annette Sofie, REVENTLOW Susanne
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 39(3), June 2011, pp.209-226.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Common mental health problems constitute a significant element of the workload of general practitioners (GPs), with estimates varying from 25% to 50%. The proposed treatment for many of these disorders is some form of psychotherapy, either alone or combined with pharmacotherapy. This qualitative interview and observation study aimed to explore Danish GPs' approaches to emotional problems and mental disorders in 'talking therapy' and in routine consultations. Semi-structured interviews were held with 14 GPs, and observations were made during 3 consecutive days in the practices of 4 of the participants. Different typical approaches were identified and could be described using the concept of mentalisation. Five participants had a mentalising approach in which they offered many sessions of talking therapy and tried to understand patients’ problems as conjoined with their life situations. Six participants had a limited mentalising approach; 3 of these described how they often lost engagement in therapies. The remaining 3 participants were satisfied with the biomedical professional identity and did not engage in patients' emotional problems. The individual participant's approach in talking therapy was mirrored in routine consultations. The article concludes that training a mentalising or reflective stance might promote more uniform therapeutic approaches to patients' emotional problems.
Religion and survival in a secular region. a twenty year follow-up of 734 Danish adults born in 1914
- Authors:
- LA COUR Peter, AYLAND Kirsten, SCHHULZ-LARSEN Kirsten
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 62(1), January 2006, pp.157-164.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
The aim of the study was to analyse associations of religiosity and mortality in a secular region. The sample consisted of 734 Danish, community dwelling elderly persons, living in a secular culture, and all aged 70 when primary data were collected. Secondary data consisted of a 20 year follow-up on vital status or exact age of death. The study was designed to be highly comparable to studies conducted in more religious environments in order to compare results. Three variables of religion were investigated in relation to survival: importance of affiliation, church attendance and listening to religious media. Relative hazards (RH) of dying were controlled in models including gender, education, medical and mental health, social relations, help given and received, and health behaviour. The results showed significant and positive associations between claiming religious affiliation important and survival (relative hazard of dying=RH .70; 95% CI .58–.85) and church attendance and survival (RH .73; 95% CI .64–.87). Results decreased and only stayed significant regarding church attendance when controlled for covariates. Nearly all significant effects were seen in women, but not in men. The effect size of the full sample is less than in more religious environments in United States samples. Although the positive overall RHs are comparable to those of other studies, the mediating variables and pathways of effects seem dissimilar in this sample from a secular environment. Receiving and especially giving help to others are suggested as variables of explanatory value.