GPs'emotions when discussing advance directives with their patients: a qualitative study

Introduction. The general practitioner is in the core of the advance directives system. Numerous surveys have shown that patients and their doctors are in favor. However, in 2021, only two out of 10 French people had written them, and the vast majority have not received any information on this right from their doctors. One of the main obstacles to their development seemed to be their emotions. Objectives. To describe and study the emotions felt by GPs when discussing advance directives with their patients. Method. An interpretative phenomenological qualitative study using individual interviews with a purposive sample of 17 general practitioners in New Aquitaine was carried out from August 2020 to March 2021. Results. Discussions about advance directives provoked negative but also positive emotions in GPs, of varying intensity (serenity, confidence, appeasement and relief). Many coping strategies focused on the emotion or the problem were used, sometimes not recognized as such. Emotions depended on internal (personality, personal and professional experience) and external factors (content of the guidelines, patient's state of health and mind) to the physicians. Conclusion. GPs' emotions seemed to be as positive as negative. By improving emotional intelligence, they could facilitate discussions about advance directives.