title: Death certification and doctors' dilemmas: a qualitative study of GPs' perspectives.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Death certificate inaccuracies have implications for funding and planning public health services, health research and family settlements. Improved training has been identified as a way of reducing inaccuracies. Understanding the influences on certifying doctors should inform that training.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore what factors influence GPs as they complete death certificates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups held by teleconference with 16 GPs.
  
  
  METHODS
  New Zealand general practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four teleconferenced focus groups were taped and transcribed. Transcripts were examined for emerging themes. Credibility, transferability and confirmability were underwritten by a clear audit trail.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants identified two factors that influenced death certification: clinical uncertainty and the family. Other themes provided an understanding of the personal and professional concerns for GPs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improving death certification accuracy is a complex issue and needs to take into consideration factors that influence certifiers.
authors.affiliation: St Joseph's Mercy Hospice, Auckland, New Zealand. carolm@mercy.co.nz
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McAllum
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: St George
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002423:Cause of Death; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003644:Death Certificates; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000592:standards; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology