Longer consultations are better for patients

Doctors who give longer consultations prescribe less, offer more lifestyle advice, handle psychosocial problems better, and empower patients. A systematic review of 14 research papers by Freeman and colleagues (p 880) also found that the most effective consultations were those in which doctors directly acknowledged and responded to patients' problems and concerns. The authors say that 15 minutes is barely adequate to see and examine an elderly patient with several active problems. Longer consultations should be a professional priority, and ways to introduce them should be found.

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Evolving general practice consultation in Britain: issues of length and context

George K Freeman, John P Horder, John G R Howie, A Pali Hungin, Alison P Hill, Nayan C Shah, and Andrew Wilson
BMJ 2002 324: 880-882. [Full Text] [PDF]