Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 16, 2026
E-Patient Counseling Trial E-PACO: Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy
Published on: August 1, 2019
Exploring the relationships between participatory decision-making, visit duration, and general practitioners'
Nanon H M Labrie1, Peter J Schulz1
1Institute of Communication & Health, University of Lugano, Switzerland.
Objective:
General practitioners' medical recommendations are not always accepted by their patients. As patients bring their own beliefs, knowledge, and preferences to the medical encounter, their opinions concerning diagnosis and treatment may deviate from their doctors'. Aiming to convince their patients of the acceptability of their advice, doctors can advance arguments. Few quantitative studies have been conducted focusing on general practitioners' provision of argumentation and little is known about the relationship between the use of argumentation and characteristics of the medical visit, such as (participatory) decision-making and visit duration. This study seeks to explore these relationships.
Methods:
An observational study of seventy, randomly drawn videos of general practice consultations was conducted. A theory-based codebook was developed. Two independent coders analyzed doctors' provision of argumentation, their decision-making style, and the duration of each visit.
Results:
General practitioners' provision of argumentation was found to be associated with lengthier visits and a more participatory decision-making style. In addition, visit duration and participatory decision-making appeared associated.
Conclusion:
These results suggest that the use of argumentation may contribute toward achieving patient-centered care through communication.
Practice Implications:
As a result, the findings underscore the potential relevance of developing courses focusing on doctors' argumentation skills.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Ethical Dilemmas II
01:09Decision Making: P-value Method
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is proposed. The claim is based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to the claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses: a null hypothesis would be a neutral statement while the alternative hypothesis can...
01:14Decision Making: Traditional Method
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is decided based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to this claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses, out of which a null hypothesis would be a...
01:30Preventive Healthcare Services
01:18Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-II
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist (PT) aims to restore function or prevent additional impairment in a patient following an injury or disease. Massage, heat, cold, water, sonar waves, exercises, and electrical stimulation are some treatments used by PTs to treat...
01:13Patient-centered Care