Turn analysis and patient-centredness in paediatric otolaryngology surgical consultations

Physician and patient/parent communication is of utmost importance in consultations to improve the shared decision-making (SDM) processes. This study investigated SDM-related outcomes through turn analysis and an assessment of patient-centred dialogue.

Multi-centre prospective cohort study analysing audio- and video-recorded patient/parent-physician interactions.

Two tertiary paediatric hospitals in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Salt Lake City, Utah.

Paediatric otolaryngologists, patients and parents during consultation for adenotonsillectomy.

Medical dialogue measures (turn analysis, patient-centredness scores via the Roter Interaction Analysis System) and SDM questionnaires (SDM-Q-9).

Turn density was significantly higher for physicians than patients/parents (P < .001), as were total statements (P < .001), and total time talking (P < .001). The opening statement was completed by the physician in 91.5% of interactions and was significantly longer than family opening statements (P = .003). The mean number of informed consent elements addressed per interaction was 4.5 out of 6. The mean patient-centredness score was 0.2 (range 0-0.56). Significant negative correlations between patient-centredness score and physician turn density (r = -.390, P = .002), physician mean turn time (r = -.406, P = .001), total physician statements (r = -.426, P = .001) and total physician speaking time (r = -.313, P = .016) were noted. There were no correlations in SDM questionnaire scores with turn analysis variables, informed consent elements or patient-centredness scores.

Surgeons dominated the consultation in terms of talking, mostly in a unidirectional manner. Neither patient-centredness nor turn analysis correlated with perceptions of SDM from the parents' perspective.