Doctors' interviewing technique and its response to different booking time

There is a burgeoning literature on communication in general practice. It is often assumed that trained GPs know and practice the techniques described, but that time is a major constraint. In two experimental studies patients were given shorter or longer appointments, and the doctors' use of different verbal interventions was measured. Our analysis focused on how individual doctors varied in their use of interviewing techniques according to the time available. When more time was available some interventions were used more frequently by all doctors, but for other interventions the response was variable. For example, GPs who normally used facilitation frequently used it more often when greater time was available, whereas doctors who used this technique less frequently tended not to change when more time was available. This suggests that, at least in the short term, there is a differential response to changes in the time available in the consultation, with increased time being a necessary but not sufficient condition to promote the greater use of the communication techniques which doctors use less frequently.