@article {Bhopal156, author = {J S Bhopal and R S Bhopal}, title = {Perceived versus actual consultation patterns in an inner city practice.}, volume = {39}, number = {321}, pages = {156--157}, year = {1989}, publisher = {Royal College of General Practitioners}, abstract = {Consultation patterns in a practice with no appointment system, situated in a socially deprived area, were examined to confirm or refute one doctor{\textquoteright}s perception that the consultation rate was much higher than average. Seventy five per cent of a sample of patients (n = 394) had consulted in the previous year. The mean annual consultation rate was 3.8 (range 0 to 29) but the median was 3.0 and the mode 0. Among 222 patients consulting over one month the mean annual consultation rate was 10.0 (range 0 to 47) with a median of 9.0 and a mode of 6. The duration of consultation (n = 506) varied from one to 25 minutes (with mean, median and modal values of 5.3, 4.0 and 4 minutes respectively) and 53\% of patients received between one and four minutes. The overall consultation rate was not high, particularly in view of the socioeconomic deprivation of the practice population, and the doctor{\textquoteright}s perception of excessive consultation was explained by the high consultation rate among attenders. The consultation pattern, particularly of males, was not conducive to a preventive approach. The mean was a poor descriptor of the average consultation rate or duration.}, issn = {0035-8797}, URL = {https://bjgp.org/content/39/321/156}, eprint = {https://bjgp.org/content/39/321/156.full.pdf}, journal = {British Journal of General Practice} }