title: Problems and challenges in relation to the treatment of patients with multimorbidity: General practitioners' views and attitudes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore views and attitudes among general practitioners (GPs) and researchers in the field of general practice towards problems and challenges related to treatment of patients with multimorbidity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A workshop entitled Patients with multimorbidity in general practice held during the Nordic Congress of General Practice in Tampere, Finland, 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 180 GPs and researchers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data for this summary report originate from audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim plenary discussions as well as 76 short questionnaires answered by attendees during the workshop. The data were analysed using framework analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (i) Complex care pathways and clinical guidelines developed for single diseases were identified as very challenging when handling patients with multimorbidity; (ii) insufficient cooperation between the professionals involved in the care of multimorbid patients underlined the GPs' impression of a fragmented health care system; (iii) GPs found it challenging to establish a good dialogue and prioritize problems with patients within the timeframe of a normal consultation; (iv) the future role of the GP was discussed in relation to diminishing health inequality, and current payment systems were criticized for not matching the treatment patterns of patients with multimorbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The participants supported the development of a future research strategy to improve the treatment of patients with multimorbidity. Four main areas were identified, which need to be investigated further to improve care for this steadily growing patient group.
authors.affiliation: The Research Unit for General Practice and Section of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Søndergaard
authors.forename: Tora Grauers
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Willadsen
authors.forename: Ann Dorrit
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Guassora
authors.forename: Mogens
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vestergaard
authors.forename: Margret Olafia
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Tomasdottir
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borgquist
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Holmberg-Marttila
authors.forename: Niels de Fine
authors.initials: Nde F
authors.lastname: Olivarius
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reventlow
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015897:Comorbidity; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D005387:Finland; D017144:Focus Groups; D058006:General Practice; D058005:General Practitioners; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D024382:Professional Role; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Denmark; Finland; Iceland; Nordic countries; Sweden; general practice; general practitioner; multimorbidity; primary care; qualitative study