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Patient knowledge and the content of the consultation in general practice
Author(s) -
BAIN D. J. G.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
medical education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.776
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1365-2923
pISSN - 0308-0110
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2923.1977.tb00626.x
Subject(s) - comprehension , general practice , psychology , medical advice , compliance (psychology) , content (measure theory) , medicine , medical education , social psychology , family medicine , nursing , computer science , mathematical analysis , mathematics , programming language
Summary The relationship between verbal exchange in doctor‐patient consultations and patients’ comprehension has been measured by means of audiotape recordings. The results provide objective evidence of differences in outcomes for similar presenting illnesses in different social groups, and these results tend to support the hypothesis that people from lower socio‐economic classes may not derive as much benefit from medical advice as do those of middle and upper classes. The author identified deficiencies in clinical relationship which if corrected will improve doctor‐patient communication in consultations in general practice. If patient comprehension and compliance are viewed as essential, communicative as well as clinical skills have to be accepted as part of the general practitioner's training.