News Release

What the patient doesn't say

Peer-Reviewed Publication

BMJ

Patients' unvoiced agendas in general practice consultations: qualitative study

A qualitative study by Barry et al of the Department of General Practice at Guy's, King's and St Thomas's School of Medicine confirms previous studies showing that doctors fail to elicit all the patient's reasons for consulting the doctor but also shows that patients' unvoiced agendas are more complex and more closely related to problem clinical outcomes than previously thought.

The authors conducted a qualitative study in 20 general practices in south east England and the West Midlands which revealed that only four out of 35 patients voiced all their concerns during their consultation with the GP. The most common unvoiced concerns included worries about the possible diagnosis, fears about the side effects of medication, and not wanting a prescription. Failure to elicit these concerns led to unnecessary prescribing and non-adherence to treatment.

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Contact:

Christine Barry, Centre for the Study of Health, Sickness and Disablement, Department of Human Sciences, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH Email: christine.barry@brunel.ac.uk



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