RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The length of consultations in general practice
JF The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
JO J R Coll Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP 552
OP 555
VO 27
IS 182
A1 Westcott, R.
YR 1977
UL http://bjgp.org/content/27/182/552.abstract
AB Four characteristics of patients which might affect the length of time spent in consultations in general practice were studied: the sex, diagnosis, age, and social class of the patient. The sex of the patient was not shown to be significantly associated with any difference. The diagnosis of `psychoneurotic' conditions was significantly associated with long consultations (p < 0·001) and this is discussed. The number of consultations lasting less than the median time for the whole series was significantly more common in the 15 to 29 age group. There have been few reports published on this topic, which seems important, and I hope further work will examine this aspect of the work patterns of established and trainee general practitioners.