Survey request: Do your patients present with unexplained medical complaints?

Researchers from the Department of Psychology at the University of Alabama are conducting a national survey of physicians’ experiences with patients who present with unexplained medical complaints. This problem affects the medical field as a whole, but specifically applies to primary care—patients with unexplained medical complaints account for as much as 20 to 30 percent of the patients seen in primary care settings. These patients can also raise liability concerns for physicians and place a substantial burden on health care finance systems. James Hamilton, Ph.D., associate professor and coordinator in the University of Alabama’s Department of Psychology, and his colleagues have asked TAFP members to participate in this academic research study to gather research on this topic.

Because patients are usually unwilling or unable to report accurately on their experiences with unexplained symptoms, physicians have a uniquely important role to play in the scientific study of this problem. The researchers hope to gain more information on this topic to help physicians and the health care system to deal more effectively with unexplained medical complaints.

The survey will take about 15 – 30 minutes to complete. To go to the online survey about your experiences with patients who present with unexplained medical complaints, click on this link: http://ibrg2.ua.edu/txa.

Please note, according to the researchers:

• This is an academic research study, not a marketing study or commercial venture of any sort.
• Participation will be completely anonymous. You will not be asked for information that could be used to identify you or your patients.
• No information about you, other than the information you explicitly provide, will be collected when you visit the study Web site.