Patients prefer communication with doctors, rather than prescriptions

Preferences of patients for patient centred approach to consultation in primary care: observational study

People waiting to see their doctor would prefer a "patient centred approach" to their consultation - including good communication, partnership with their doctor and health promotion information - rather than an examination or a prescription, finds a study in this week's BMJ.

A total of 824 patients in the waiting room of three doctors' surgeries completed a pre- consultation questionnaire about what they wanted the doctor to do in the consultation. Three areas of patient preferences were identified: "communication" including listening and exploring concerns, "partnership" including discussion and mutual agreement about treatment, and "health promotion" including how to stay healthy and reduce the risks of future illness. Fewer (63%) wanted an examination and only a quarter wanted a prescription.

Patients with a very strong preference for patient centredness are those who are vulnerable either psychosocially or because they are feeling particularly unwell or worried, and doctors should be sensitive to those patients, conclude the authors.

Contact:

Paul Little, MRC Clinician Scientist, Community Clinical Sciences (Primary Medical Care Group), University of Southampton, Aldermoor Health Centre, Southampton, UK Email: psl3@soton.ac.uk