PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Scott A Murray AU - Marilyn Kendall AU - Kirsty Boyd AU - Allison Worth AU - T Fred Benton TI - General practitioners and their possible role in providing spiritual care: a qualitative study. DP - 2003 Dec 01 TA - British Journal of General Practice PG - 957--959 VI - 53 IP - 497 4099 - http://bjgp.org/content/53/497/957.short 4100 - http://bjgp.org/content/53/497/957.full SO - Br J Gen Pract2003 Dec 01; 53 AB - We interviewed the general practitioners (GPs) of 40 patients with life-threatening illnesses over the course of the last year of life. We asked them to identify their patients' holistic needs, and to discuss whether they considered that they had a role in providing 'spiritual care'. The GPs varied greatly in their understanding of their patients' experiences and needs. Most said that they had a role in providing spiritual care, but hesitated to raise spiritual issues with patients, mentioning lack of time, a feeling that they should wait for a cue, or being unprepared or unskilled.