11 seconds. This is the average speaking time given to the patient during a medical appointment according to a study by the University of Florida and the Mayo Clinic, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
To reach this conclusion, the researchers filmed 112 medical consultations to analyze their progress. They were particularly interested in the first minutes and in particular in the speaking time given to the patient to explain the reasons for his arrival.
Specialists interrupt their patients more than general practitioners
As a result, they notice that the patients are most of the time interrupted. Only 36% of them believe they have been able to explain their situation. Of those who have the opportunity to describe their symptoms, 70% are interrupted, after 11 seconds on average. Those who weren’t interrupted said they detailed in about 6 seconds.
According to the study, general practitioners give their patients more speaking time than specialists, and also interrupt them less often. Specialists have explained that this mode of operation was due to the fact that they already knew the reason for the visit of their patient. What the authors of the study do that the doctor must nevertheless “identify the specific concerns of the patient”.
This study calls into question the lack of training in communication between doctor and patient but also points to the desire to save time, efficiency and the exhaustion of health professionals, while recalling that the patient must nevertheless remain a priority. “Our results suggest that we are a long way from providing patient-centered care,” conclude the study authors.
Read also :
Medical jargon blurs communication with the patient
A listening number for caregivers in pain
Confidence in the medical staff leads to better care
A medical consultation limited to … 20 minutes
