Use of focus groups from different disciplines to identify clinical management and educational issues

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Abstract
Background: Focus groups of physicians have been used as a needs assessment technique to plan continuing medical education; however, rarely have the views of other health professionals been sought to complement such data. Purpose: The purpose of this research was to determine the feasibility of using focus groups from different disciplines to identify management and educational issues related to patients with chronic daily headache. Description: Focus groups of family physicians, pharmacists, allied health professionals, and patients discussed difficulties with diagnosis and treatment, helpful resources and possible continuing medical education. Evaluation: We found recruitment of focus groups difficult. However, once established, focus groups of professionals were helpful in identifying physician educational and clinical management issues and enhancing physician data. Physician and patient groups identified diagnostic difficulties and all groups described treatment problems, referral difficulties, and the need for coordinated care. Conclusions: The multidisciplinary focus increased the data that the physicians provided and as such is useful as a means of needs assessment.