Table 1 Qualitative feedback from general practitioners participating in academic detailing provided by a consultant physician on the assessment and treatment of chronic refractory breathlessness

GP (AD group) comments

I am very keen for my patients to be involved in trials as they learn more about their condition, get the benefit of latest ideas, and as a result I learn from this.

Quick, informative. I was unaware of the benefit of morphine for cancer related breathlessness

It was probably excellent for some practices

Well-done

Very good to have one to one discussion. I already had book but didn’t know about web resources

Limited usefulness

Informative, practical and helpful

Reinforcing the need to exclude reversible causes. Tricks on commencing morphine for dyspnoea in patients already on opioids.

Reinforcing current knowledge

Clarified use of narcotics; refined use of nebulised medications