• Eva Lena Strandberg, Ingvar Ovhed, Anders Håkansson, and Margareta Troein.
• Lund University, Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, General Practice/Family Medicine, Malmö, Sweden. eva-lena.strandberg@med.lu.se
• Scand J Prim Health Care. 2011 Dec 1; 29 (4): 241246241-6.

ObjectivesThe aims were to develop auditing according to the APO (Audit Project Odense) method for measuring soft data, exemplified by a holistic view, and to test the instrument.DesignA descriptive study of the development of an APO chart and a test registration.SettingPrimary health care, Blekinge County, Sweden.SubjectsTen general practitioners (GPs) were invited to transform categories of the concept of a holistic view obtained in an earlier study, into 30 variables on an APO registration chart. The participants chose to study different kinds of knowledge as aspects of holistic care.Main Outcome MeasureAn APO registration chart and test of the instrument.ResultsAfter three meetings the group had drawn up an APO registration chart supplemented with Likert scales. A pilot audit was performed. Eight doctors registered 255 consultations. In assessment of the patients' problems, factual medical knowledge was important in 83% of the cases, familiarity in 53%, and a capacity for judgement in 36%. In decision-making factual medical knowledge was used in 88% and capacity for judgement in 58%. A holistic view was necessary for the outcome in 43% and valuable in 25%. The GPs used the Likert scales in a majority of the cases.ConclusionsIn this first step in developing an instrument, the results indicate that the APO method could be an alternative for studying what happens in the consultation, and the occurrence of an abstract phenomenon such as the use of different kinds of knowledge as part of a holistic view.

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