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Written prompts to GPs to elicit patient concerns led to a small increase in 1 measure of patient satisfaction in self limiting illness

Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care

Key Words: primary health care • physician-patient relations

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

METHODS
Design: randomised controlled trial.

Allocation: unconcealed.^*

Blinding: unblinded.^*

Follow up period: immediately after consultation.

Setting: 4 semirural training general practices in the southeast UK.

Patients: 110 patients presenting with self limiting conditions. Exclusion criteria: referral to hospital, prescription given for purposes other than symptom control, or spontaneous expression by the patient of a clear concern about his/her illness.

Intervention: after a history and examination, 56 patients were allocated to written prompts to the GP to facilitate elicitation of patient concerns. Written prompts were "May I ask if you have any concerns about this [illness or pain] you have come about today?" and "Anything in particular about the [illness or pain]?" and "What is it about the [illness/pain] that concerns you?" 54 patients were allocated to usual care.

Outcomes: patient satisfaction (Consultation Satisfaction Questionnaire [CSQ]), enablement (patient enablement instrument), anxiety (6 item short form of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory state . . . [Full text of this article]

Robert C Smith, MD

Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA