DIFFICULTY OF SYMPTOM CONTROL AND GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS KNOWLEDGE OF PATIENTS SYMPTOMS

The purpose of this study was to investigate barriers to adequate symp tom control in palliative care within primary care by surveying health professionals' perceptions of their ability to control symptoms and a wareness of their patients' symptoms. General practitioners (GPs) and district nurses were surveyed about general views of symptom control. Interviews with terminally ill patients were conducted, and GPs comple ted questionnaires about these specific patients. GPs and district nur ses differed greatly in the symptoms they felt confident in controllin g. There was generally low agreement between patients' and GP's report s of patients' symptoms. GPs were most likely to miss symptoms which w ere perceived to be difficult to control and which were less prevalent in the patient sample. As GPs and district nurses differ in the sympt oms they feel confident in controlling, close teamwork between the two professions may enhance the prospects for adequate control of some sy mptoms. Perceived ability to control symptoms and the prevalence of sy mptoms may both influence which symptoms come to the attention of the GP Unless GPs ask directly about symptoms, many symptoms are likely to be missed.