Death certification and doctors' dilemmas: a qualitative study of GPs' perspectives.

BACKGROUND

Death certificate inaccuracies have implications for funding and planning public health services, health research and family settlements. Improved training has been identified as a way of reducing inaccuracies. Understanding the influences on certifying doctors should inform that training.

AIM: To explore what factors influence GPs as they complete death certificates.

DESIGN

Focus groups held by teleconference with 16 GPs.

SETTING

New Zealand general practice.

METHOD: Four teleconferenced focus groups were taped and transcribed. Transcripts were examined for emerging themes. Credibility, transferability and confirmability were underwritten by a clear audit trail.

RESULTS

Participants identified two factors that influenced death certification: clinical uncertainty and the family. Other themes provided an understanding of the personal and professional concerns for GPs.

CONCLUSION

Improving death certification accuracy is a complex issue and needs to take into consideration factors that influence certifiers.