Stories that matter: a qualitative study of general practitioners’ reflections and experiences of exploring patients’ impactful life stories

Purpose There is solid evidence of the impact of life experiences on health. Yet, knowledge of how general practitioners (GPs) relate to patients’ stories of such experiences is sparse. This study explored GPs’ reflections and experiences concerning managing potentially impactful patient stories. Me...

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Main Authors: Marianne Rønneberg, Bente Prytz Mjølstad, Lotte Hvas, Linn Okkenhaug Getz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2454043
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author Marianne Rønneberg
Bente Prytz Mjølstad
Lotte Hvas
Linn Okkenhaug Getz
author_facet Marianne Rønneberg
Bente Prytz Mjølstad
Lotte Hvas
Linn Okkenhaug Getz
author_sort Marianne Rønneberg
collection DOAJ
description Purpose There is solid evidence of the impact of life experiences on health. Yet, knowledge of how general practitioners (GPs) relate to patients’ stories of such experiences is sparse. This study explored GPs’ reflections and experiences concerning managing potentially impactful patient stories. Methods We conducted four focus group interviews among Norwegian and Danish GPs and analysed them using Reflexive thematic analysis. Results Three main themes were developed. First, GPs apply various strategies to recognize and unfold impactful stories. Second, they attribute diverse purposes to engaging with these stories, from viewing them as instrumentally useful to recognizing their intrinsic value. These views influence GPs’ objectives and strategies when managing impactful stories. The instrumental utility approach can lead to an unfair dismissal of impactful stories. Finally, the commitment of some of the GPs to patients’ impactful stories is considered fulfilling and highly satisfactory but also associated with external resistance. Conclusions Patients and GPs encounter difficulties in addressing impactful stories, which resonate with the theory of epistemic injustice. Nevertheless, engaging with these stories is vital for providing ethically grounded and meaningful primary care. The paper proposes strategies and a conceptual framework to support work with impactful stories in clinical practice.
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series International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
spelling doaj-art-88fdb42251d64aca870f906fce20f08c2025-01-27T11:59:10ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312025-12-0120110.1080/17482631.2025.24540432454043Stories that matter: a qualitative study of general practitioners’ reflections and experiences of exploring patients’ impactful life storiesMarianne Rønneberg0Bente Prytz Mjølstad1Lotte Hvas2Linn Okkenhaug Getz3Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)University of CopenhagenNorwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)Purpose There is solid evidence of the impact of life experiences on health. Yet, knowledge of how general practitioners (GPs) relate to patients’ stories of such experiences is sparse. This study explored GPs’ reflections and experiences concerning managing potentially impactful patient stories. Methods We conducted four focus group interviews among Norwegian and Danish GPs and analysed them using Reflexive thematic analysis. Results Three main themes were developed. First, GPs apply various strategies to recognize and unfold impactful stories. Second, they attribute diverse purposes to engaging with these stories, from viewing them as instrumentally useful to recognizing their intrinsic value. These views influence GPs’ objectives and strategies when managing impactful stories. The instrumental utility approach can lead to an unfair dismissal of impactful stories. Finally, the commitment of some of the GPs to patients’ impactful stories is considered fulfilling and highly satisfactory but also associated with external resistance. Conclusions Patients and GPs encounter difficulties in addressing impactful stories, which resonate with the theory of epistemic injustice. Nevertheless, engaging with these stories is vital for providing ethically grounded and meaningful primary care. The paper proposes strategies and a conceptual framework to support work with impactful stories in clinical practice.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2454043general practicetrauma-informed carenarrativesepistemic injusticepattern recognitioninductive foraging
spellingShingle Marianne Rønneberg
Bente Prytz Mjølstad
Lotte Hvas
Linn Okkenhaug Getz
Stories that matter: a qualitative study of general practitioners’ reflections and experiences of exploring patients’ impactful life stories
International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
general practice
trauma-informed care
narratives
epistemic injustice
pattern recognition
inductive foraging
title Stories that matter: a qualitative study of general practitioners’ reflections and experiences of exploring patients’ impactful life stories
title_full Stories that matter: a qualitative study of general practitioners’ reflections and experiences of exploring patients’ impactful life stories
title_fullStr Stories that matter: a qualitative study of general practitioners’ reflections and experiences of exploring patients’ impactful life stories
title_full_unstemmed Stories that matter: a qualitative study of general practitioners’ reflections and experiences of exploring patients’ impactful life stories
title_short Stories that matter: a qualitative study of general practitioners’ reflections and experiences of exploring patients’ impactful life stories
title_sort stories that matter a qualitative study of general practitioners reflections and experiences of exploring patients impactful life stories
topic general practice
trauma-informed care
narratives
epistemic injustice
pattern recognition
inductive foraging
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2454043
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