• Samuel William David Merriel, Christopher Salisbury, Chris Metcalfe, and Matthew Ridd.
• University of Bristol, Bristol.
• Br J Gen Pract. 2015 Aug 1; 65 (637): e545e551e545-51.

BackgroundPatient-doctor continuity is valued by both parties, yet the effect of the depth of the patient-doctor relationship on the content of consultations in general practice is unknown.AimTo assess whether differences in the depth of relationship between a patient and their GP affects the length of consultations, and the number and type of problems and issues raised during a consultation.Design And SettingCross-sectional study in 22 GP practices in the UK.MethodGP consultations (n = 229) were videotaped and the number of problems and aspects of those problems and issues identified. Patients completed the Patient-Doctor Depth of Relationship (PDDR) and General Practice Assessment Questionnaire-communication (GPAQc) scales. Associations were explored using multivariable linear and logistic regression.ResultsComplete data were available on 190 participants consulting 30 GPs. In unadjusted analysis, patients with a deep relationship with their GP discussed more problems (mean 2.8) and issues (mean 4.7) compared with those with a moderate (2.4 problems; 4.0 issues) or shallow (2.3 problems; 3.8 issues) relationship. Patients with deep relationships had consultations that were on average 118 seconds (95% CI = 1 to 236) longer than those with shallow relationships. Adjustment for participant and GP factors attenuated these relationships, although the main trends persisted.ConclusionA greater number of problems and issues may be raised in a consultation when patients have a deeper relationship with their GP. Over several clinical encounters each year, this may be associated with significant benefits to patients and efficiencies in GP consultations and warrants further investigation.© British Journal of General Practice 2015.

19 keywords...

hide…