Raine, Rosalind, Carter, Simon, Sensky, Tom et al. · BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2004 · DOI
This study asked 46 general practitioners (GPs) in England about their views on ME/CFS and compared these with their views on irritable bowel syndrome. The researchers found that many GPs held negative stereotypes about ME/CFS patients, viewing them unfavorably because the condition has no clear physical marker, changes how it's classified over time, and conflicts with traditional ideas about work and illness. These negative attitudes made it harder for GPs to provide effective care.
This study reveals how clinician attitudes and misconceptions about ME/CFS directly impact patient care quality and access to appropriate management. Understanding these provider-level barriers is crucial for developing interventions—such as targeted medical education—that can improve ME/CFS diagnosis and treatment in primary care.
This study does not establish that GP stereotyping causes poor health outcomes in ME/CFS patients, only that negative perceptions exist and may influence management decisions. It does not compare actual clinical outcomes between patients seen by stereotyping versus non-stereotyping GPs. The cross-sectional design provides no temporal data on whether GP views have changed over time or what drives changes in clinical practice.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Raine, Rosalind, Carter, Simon, Sensky, Tom, & Black, Nick (2004). General practitioners' perceptions of chronic fatigue syndrome and beliefs about its management, compared with irritable bowel syndrome: qualitative study.. BMJ (Clinical research ed.). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38078.503819.EE
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-raine-2004-general-practitioners,
author = {Raine, Rosalind and Carter, Simon and Sensky, Tom and Black, Nick},
title = {General practitioners' perceptions of chronic fatigue syndrome and beliefs about its management, compared with irritable bowel syndrome: qualitative study.},
journal = {BMJ (Clinical research ed.)},
year = {2004},
doi = {10.1136/bmj.38078.503819.EE},
note = {PubMed: 15169743},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/raine-2004-general-practitioners},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/raine-2004-general-practitioners
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