Consultation length: influencing factors and doctors’ and patients’ perspectives – a cross-sectional study

Authors

  • Catarina Neves Santos Médica Interna de Formação Específica em Medicina Geral e Familiar na USF Ramada, ACeS Loures-Odivelas, ARSLVT. http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3232-1928
  • Bruno Ferreira Pedrosa Assistente Interno de Medicina Geral e Familiar. USF Ramada, ACeS Loures-Odivelas. Ramada, Portugal.
  • Marília Martins Assistente Interno de Medicina Geral e Familiar. USF Ramada, ACeS Loures-Odivelas. Ramada, Portugal.
  • Fábio Gouveia Assistente em Medicina Geral e Familiar. USF Souto Rio, ACeS Baixo Vouga. Aveiro, Portugal.
  • Fátima Franco Assistente Graduada em Medicina Geral e Familiar. USF Ramada, ACeS Loures-Odivelas. Ramada, Portugal.
  • Margarida João Vardasca Assistente Interna de Medicina Geral e Familiar. USF Ramada, ACeS Loures-Odivelas. Ramada, Portugal. | Assistente convidada. Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa. Lisboa, Portugal.
  • Bernardo Pedro Assistente em Medicina Geral e Familiar. ACeS Lisboa Norte. Lisboa, Portugal.
  • Jorge Domingues Nogueira Assistente Graduado em Medicina Geral e Familiar. USF Ramada, ACeS Loures-Odivelas. Ramada, Portugal.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v39i6.13523

Keywords:

Primary health care, Physicians, Primary care, Time management, Physician-patient relations, Patient satisfaction

Abstract

Introduction: Consultation time is a fundamental resource and is crucial for doctor and patient satisfaction. A longer consultation time seems to be associated with greater satisfaction for both patients and doctors and contributes to an improvement in the quality of life of patients with multimorbidity. However, there is not enough evidence to say that an increase in consultation time is beneficial for patients and there are several factors that can influence its length.

Aims: Assess patients’ perception of consultation time, compare the opinion of doctors and patients regarding the adequacy of the length and satisfaction with the consultation, and identify factors that influence the consultation time.

Methods: Cross-sectional mixed-methods study with a convergent design. To obtain representative data from the health care centre under study, a sample of 380 face-to-face medical consultations was calculated. Anonymous questionnaires were given to doctors and patients after the consultation. A descriptive and inferential statistical analysis and a thematic analysis of the qualitative data were performed.

Results: We studied 403 consultations. Patients perceived a longer duration of the consultation than the time measured (p<0.001) and considered the duration as adequate in a higher proportion than doctors (p<0.001). Patients’ satisfaction was higher with longer consultations (p=0.004), while physicians reported greater satisfaction with consultations of intermediate duration (p<0.001). Consultations carried out by the family doctor or by female doctors (p<0.001), patients with more chronic problems (p=0.006), and the approach of more problems in the consultation or of a new problem in a scheduled consultation (p<0.001) were associated with higher consultation times.

Conclusions: The consultation time plays an important role in the satisfaction of both patients and doctors. The autonomy of health units and professionals to adapt consultation times in certain contexts could increase the satisfaction of doctors and patients.

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Published

2023-12-22

Issue

Vol. 39 No. 6 (2023): Revista Portuguesa de Medicina Geral e Familiar

Section

Original Research

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How to Cite

Consultation length: influencing factors and doctors’ and patients’ perspectives – a cross-sectional study. (2023). Portuguese Journal of Family Medicine and General Practice, 39(6), 549-61. https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v39i6.13523