AndyPR
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Not a recommendation.
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http://primarycarekeele.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/mus-guidelines.htmlAs a newly qualified General Practitioner, I struggled to manage people who I thought might have medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). What would I say to the patient? Who could I refer the patient to? What could I do to support the patient, and maybe even try to improve their situation?
So, what are medically unexplained symptoms?
MUS actually accounts for a considerably high proportion of NHS activity, with approximately 10% of total NHS expenditure being spent on services for the working age population in England with medically unexplained symptoms.
MUS refers to the persistent bodily complaints, whereby adequate examination and investigation does not reveal sufficiently explanatory structural or other specified pathology. MUS are common, with a spectrum of severity, and patients are found in all areas of the healthcare system - Primary Care, the Emergency Department and Specialist Out-patient clinics. Symptoms can often include pain (muscle, headache, pelvic, facial, chest), fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, and may also be presented in combination.
What impact do Medically Unexplained Symptoms have on GPs?
Extensive literature looks into the impact on clinicians managing MUS, showing that family doctors feel less satisfied caring for patients with persistent MUS rather than patients with psychological problems. GPs have reported that they often find it stressful to work with patients with MUS, going on to describe a sense of 'powerlessness' during the consultation. These negative emotions can then go on to influence their professional judgement.
During some of my earlier research, conducted with medical students, GPs were interviewed about their experiences of managing patients suffering from MUS. One particularly notable quite illustrated the impact that patients with MUS has on GPs;
"Some make your stomach churn when they come in...very nervous. They make it very clear they are taking charge; and they do, they take charge, and there is nothing you can do". (GP quoted in the Wileman Paper)
Comments are open, only one comment so far but a very good one.