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. 2014 Oct-Dec;3(4):333-9.
doi: 10.4103/2249-4863.148102.

Consultation Content not Consultation Length Improves Patient Satisfaction

Thomas I Lemon  1 , Rebecca H Smith  2
Affiliations

Consultation Content not Consultation Length Improves Patient Satisfaction

Thomas I Lemon et al. J Family Med Prim Care. 2014 Oct-Dec.

Abstract

The suggestion that increased consultation length leads to improved patient satisfaction has some evidence, albeit uncertain. Importantly there are other determinants within the doctor-patient consultation that themselves may be responsible for this improved satisfaction and it is these we investigate in this paper. A systematic review of PubMed and associated papers was carried out using search terms 'family practice consultation length', 'general practice consultation length', 'local health authority consultation length' and 'primary care consultation length'. 590 papers were originally selected using these search terms, post scoring this number became 9. The results obtained support the idea that consultation length does not directly improve consultation outcome, but rather there are variables integrated within the consultation affecting this. Increased time purely allows a physician to implement management, particularly relating to psychosocial aspects.

Keywords: Communication; consultation; patients; time.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Graph 1
Graph 1
Adapted from Carr Hill, Deveguele, and NHS.[456] This graph portrays the increasing GP consultation length in the UK, whilst also providing a comparison to European Union partners in 2002. The line demonstrates the average consultation length in 2002 as defined by Deveguele et al.[5]
Figure 1
Figure 1
A model (Lemon-Smith model) demonstrating variables and how they may effect time and patient satisfaction. As the consultation progresses the doctor is able to move through the circles, and with each circle engaged patient satisfaction occurs. Administration and facilities are peripheral factors that are beyond the direct control of the physician, as are the patient factors. Thus it is the consultation factors that are the most important for a physician to engage in to ensure patient satisfaction
Figure 2
Figure 2
A hypothetical model drawing on the studies reviewed showing how patient satisfaction is currently increased, in which we suggest an 80 second increase in consultation length would enable use of three parameters that are proven to improve patient outcomes
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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