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The interrupted consultation
1Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel.
Family Practice
|June 1, 1992
Summary
Interruptions in patient-physician consultations, common in Israel, are often by clinic staff, not patients. This impacts communication, diagnosis, therapy, and satisfaction for both doctors and patients.
Area of Science:
- Medical Communication
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Patient-physician consultations are crucial for healthcare delivery.
- Interruptions during consultations can disrupt communication and negatively impact outcomes.
- The phenomenon of consultation interruptions is not well-studied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically investigate the phenomenon of interrupted patient-physician consultations.
- To identify the sources and frequency of interruptions in a primary care setting.
- To explore the potential consequences of these interruptions on communication, diagnosis, therapy, and satisfaction.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of 100 patient-physician consultations.
- Conducted in a neighborhood health center in Israel.
- Recorded interruptions, their sources, and consultation duration.
Main Results:
- Interruptions occurred in 94% of observed consultations.
- An average of 1.36 interruptions per consultation was recorded.
- Contrary to common belief, most interruptions originated from clinic staff, not other patients.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights a significant and previously under-explored issue in primary care.
- Interruptions by clinic staff are a notable factor affecting patient-physician interactions.
- Further research is needed to understand the extent, sources, and impact of interruptions in family practice and develop coping strategies.