RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Extending appointment length--the effect in one practice.
JF The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
JO J R Coll Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP 24
OP 25
VO 39
IS 318
A1 Wilson, A
YR 1989
UL http://bjgp.org/content/39/318/24.abstract
AB The effects of extending appointment length from 7.5 to 10.0 minutes in the evening surgeries of two general practitioners in one general practice were examined. The mean consultation length increased from 7.4 to 8.4 minutes. Most of this change appeared to be due to a small increase in the length of shorter consultations and was true for all age groups. The time that patients had to wait did not decrease and for one doctor actually increased. However, the results suggest that with longer appointments there is more discussion of lifestyle factors and more screening activity.