Thomas H, Mitchell G, Rich J, Best M. Definition of whole person care in general practice in the English language literature: a systematic review.
BMJ Open 2018;
8:e023758. [PMID:
30552268 PMCID:
PMC6303638 DOI:
10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023758]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Revised: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
The importance of 'whole person' or 'holistic' care is widely recognised, particularly with an increasing prevalence of chronic multimorbidity internationally. This approach to care is a defining feature of general practice. However, its precise meaning remains ambiguous. We aimed to determine how the term 'whole person' care is understood by general practitioners (GPs), and whether it is synonymous with '[w]holistic' and 'biopsychosocial' care.
DESIGN
Systematic literature review.
METHODS
MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Proquest Dissertations and Theses, Science.gov (Health and Medicine database), Google Scholar and included studies' reference lists were searched with an unlimited date range. Systematic or literature reviews, original research, theoretical articles or books/book chapters; specific to general practice; relevant to the research question; and published in English were included. Included literature was critically appraised, and data were extracted and analysed using thematic synthesis.
RESULTS
Fifty publications were included from 4297 non-duplicate records retrieved. Six themes were identified: a multidimensional, integrated approach; the importance of the therapeutic relationship; acknowledging doctors' humanity; recognising patients' individual personhood; viewing health as more than absence of disease; and employing a range of treatment modalities. Whole person, biopsychosocial and holistic terminology were often used interchangeably, but were not synonymous.
CONCLUSIONS
Whole person, holistic and biopsychosocial terminology are primarily characterised by a multidimensional approach to care and incorporate additional elements described above. Whole person care probably represents the closest representation of the basis for general practice. Health systems aiming to provide whole person care need to address the challenge of integrating the care of other health professionals, and maintaining the patient-doctor relationship central to the themes identified. Further research is required to clarify the representativeness of the findings, and the relative importance GPs' assign to each theme.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42017058824.
Collapse