The effect of the question "Is there anything else?" asked at the end of a patient consultation in a family practice
Year: 2011
Type: dissertation
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: The effect of asking the question “Is there anything else?” toward the end of selected \nconsultations was assessed. A study was conducted using a sample of 200 patients \nfrom a Johannesburg general family practice, randomly allocated into intervention \nand control groups. Details of patient demographics and of the consultations in both \ngroups were recorded. Patients from the study group were asked “Is there anything \nelse?” at the transition to closure of the consultation. The responses elicited were \nrecorded and compared to issues raised spontaneously by patients in the control \ngroup at the same stage of the consultation. 43% of the patients in the study group \nused the opportunity to introduce new issues not yet discussed. 26% of the patients \nin the control group asked questions at the same point in the consultation. The \nproblems raised were similar in each group, as was the time added to the \nconsultation. This would suggest that patients will raise more issues if given the \nopportunity than they may have raised unprompted. Dealing with these issues may \nmake the consultation longer, but may prevent unnecessary future visits and \ninvestigations.
Author: Kirsten Welch
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2249257730