BACKGROUND NICE guidelines for the management of emotional concerns in primary care emphasise the importance of communication and a trusting relationship, which is difficult to operationalise in practice. Current pressures in the NHS mean that it is important to understand care from a patient perspective. This study aimed to explore patients' experiences of primary care consultations for emotional concerns and what patients valued when seeking care from their GP. METHODS Eighteen adults with experience of consulting a GP for emotional concerns participated in 4 focus groups. Data were analysed thematically. RESULTS (1) Doctor as Drug: Patients' relationship with their GP was considered therapeutic with continuity particularly valued. (2) Doctor as Detective and Validator: Patients were often puzzled by their symptoms, not recognising their emotional concerns. GPs needed to play the role of detective by exploring not just symptoms, but the person and their life circumstances. GPs were crucial in helping patients understand and validate their emotional concerns. (3) Doctor as Collaborator: Patients prefer a collaborative partnership, but often need to relinquish involvement because they are too unwell, or take a more active role because they feel GPs are ill-equipped or under too much pressure to help. Patients valued: GPs booking their follow up appointments; acknowledgement of stressful life circumstances; not relying solely on medication. CONCLUSIONS Seeking help for emotional concerns is challenging due to stigma and unfamiliar symptoms. GPs can support disclosure and understanding of emotional concerns by fully exploring and validating patients' concerns, taking into account patients' life contexts. This process of exploration and validation forms the foundation of a curative, trusting GP-patient relationship. A trusting relationship, with an emphasis on empathy and understanding, can make patients more able to share involvement in their care with GPs. This process is cyclical, as patients feel that their GP is caring, interested, and treating them as a person, further strengthening their relationship. NICE guidance should acknowledge the importance of empathy and validation when building an effective GP-patient partnership, and the role this has in supporting patients' involvement in their care.

中文翻译：

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患者在初级保健中寻求情感问题帮助的经验：医生是药物，侦探和合作者。

背景技术用于在初级保健中管理情感关注的NICE指南强调了沟通和信任关系的重要性，而这在实践中很难实施。NHS当前的压力意味着从患者的角度了解护理很重要。这项研究旨在探讨患者因情绪问题而接受初级保健咨询的经历，以及患者从全科医生寻求护理时的重视之处。方法18名有向GP咨询有关情绪问题的经验的成年人参加了4个焦点小组。对数据进行专题分析。结果（1）药物治疗医生：患者与GP的关系被认为具有治疗意义，尤其是连续性。（2）担任侦探和验证人的医生：患者常常被症状困扰，没有意识到他们的情感问题。GP不仅需要探索症状，还需要探索人及其生活环境，从而扮演侦探的角色。全科医生对帮助患者理解和验证他们的情绪担忧至关重要。（3）作为协作者的医生：患者更喜欢协作性伙伴关系，但是由于他们感觉不适，或者由于他们感觉GP缺乏能力或承受太大的帮助压力而常常需要放弃参与，或者扮演更积极的角色。重视患者：全科医生预约随访；承认生活压力大的环境；不仅仅依靠药物。结论由于耻辱感和不熟悉的症状，寻求情感上的帮助具有挑战性。全科医生可以通过全面探索和验证患者的情绪来支持披露和理解情绪问题 顾及患者的生活情况。探索和验证的过程构成了治愈的，信任的GP与患者之间关系的基础。着重于同理心和理解的信任关系可以使患者更有能力与全科医生分享他们的护理参与。这个过程是周期性的，因为患者认为他们的全科医生很关心，感兴趣并且将他们当作一个人对待，从而进一步加强了他们之间的关系。NICE指南应承认在建立有效的全科医生与患者的伙伴关系时同情和验证的重要性，以及在支持患者参与其护理方面所起的作用。着重于同理心和理解的信任关系可以使患者更有能力与全科医生分享他们的护理参与。这个过程是周期性的，因为患者认为他们的全科医生正在关怀，关心和对待他们，从而进一步加强了他们之间的关系。NICE指南应承认在建立有效的全科医生与患者的伙伴关系时同情和验证的重要性，以及在支持患者参与其护理方面所起的作用。着重于同理心和理解的信任关系可以使患者更有能力与全科医生分享他们的护理参与。这个过程是周期性的，因为患者认为他们的全科医生很关心，感兴趣并且将他们当作一个人对待，从而进一步加强了他们之间的关系。NICE指南应承认在建立有效的全科医生与患者的伙伴关系时同情和验证的重要性，以及在支持患者参与其护理方面所起的作用。