title: 'I still have no idea why this patient was here': An exploration of the difficulties GP trainees experience when gathering information.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Collecting information during patient encounters is essential for the delivery of patient-centered care. To obtain insight into areas that require more attention in medical communication training, this study explores what difficulties GP trainees encounter when gathering information.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this phenomenological study, we observed a morning clinic of 15 GP trainees. To explore trainees' experiences with information-gathering, we held brief interviews after every consultation and a lengthier interview directly after the morning clinic. The resulting data were analyzed using template analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From trainees' reflections, we distilled five difficulties that trainees experience when gathering information: (1) Goal conflicts; (2) Ineffectiveness of trained communication skills in specific situations; (3) Trainees' distress hampers open communication; (4) Untrustworthy information; (5) Tunnel vision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Information-gathering is difficult for GP trainees. Current generic communication skills training does not seem to support trainees sufficiently to handle effectively the challenges they encounter during consultations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medical communication training needs to support trainees in handling their goal-conflicts and feelings that hamper information-gathering, while also providing them with communication strategies adapted to handling specific challenging situations.
authors: Department of Family Medicine, Maastricht University, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht, The Netherlands; Department of Educational Development and Research, Maastricht University, School of Health Professions Education (SHE), Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: esther.giroldi@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: Giroldi
authors: Department of Family Medicine, Maastricht University, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht, The Netherlands; Department of Educational Development and Research, Maastricht University, School of Health Professions Education (SHE), Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: wemke.veldhuijzen@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors: Wemke
authors: W
authors: Veldhuijzen
authors: Department of Family Medicine, Maastricht University, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: t.deleve@alumni.maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors: Tijme
authors: T
authors: de Leve
authors: Department of Family Medicine, Maastricht University, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: trudy.vanderweijden@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors: Trudy
authors: T
authors: van der Weijden
authors: Department of General Practice, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: h.bueving@erasmusmc.nl.
authors: Herman
authors: H
authors: Bueving
authors: Department of Educational Development and Research, Maastricht University, School of Health Professions Education (SHE), Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: c.vandervleuten@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors: Cees
authors: C
authors: van der Vleuten
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D058006:General Practice / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011340:Problem Solving; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012017:Referral and Consultation
keywords: Doctor–patient communication; General practice; Information-gathering; Medical education; Qualitative research