The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Patient and professional accuracy of recalled treatment decisions in out-patient consultations

Patient and professional accuracy of recalled treatment decisions in out-patient consultations
Patient and professional accuracy of recalled treatment decisions in out-patient consultations
Aims To test the assumption that professional recall of consultation decisions is valid and more accurate than patient recall of consultation decisions.
Methods One hundred and thirty-four consultations between diabetes specialist nurses and diabetes specialist dietitians in an adult out-patient diabetes service were audiotaped. Patients and professionals were asked to recall the treatment decisions made immediately after the consultation. Patient participants were also asked to complete the Health Care Climate Questionnaire (HCC). Recalled decisions, by patient and professional participants, were then compared with those extracted from the audio tapes, and with each other.
Results The mean duration of consultations was 27 min. Patients recalled a mean of 2.5 (sd 1.4) decisions per consultation, and professionals a mean of 3.2 (sd 1.6) decisions per consultation. A mean of 2.2 (sd 1.1, range 0–4) decisions per consultation were identified on the audiotapes. Patients recalled a mean of 2.3 (sd 1.4, range 0–6) decisions per consultations that could not be found on the tapes, with professionals recalling a mean of 1.7 (sd 1.2, range 0–6) decisions per consultation that could not be found on the tape. More autonomy, as measured by the HCCQ, was correlated with better professional recall (r = 0.17; P < 0.05).
Conclusions Both patients and professionals have poor recall of decisions made in diabetes out-patient consultations. Although the mean professional recall is marginally better than that of the patients, they recall a vast number of unmade decisions and the implications of these being recorded in patients' notes is substantial.
communication, consultation, recall
0742-3071
557-560
Skinner, T.C.
266ca58c-9a2e-4bc3-97b2-e9dc905b03ab
Barnard, K.
967005c7-c936-4fdc-b713-3c20a1dc9c71
Cradock, S.
7e3ef756-915a-404f-b566-6121a2ea458c
Parkin, T.
36f8e131-091f-4bef-a040-4c88ce600507
Skinner, T.C.
266ca58c-9a2e-4bc3-97b2-e9dc905b03ab
Barnard, K.
967005c7-c936-4fdc-b713-3c20a1dc9c71
Cradock, S.
7e3ef756-915a-404f-b566-6121a2ea458c
Parkin, T.
36f8e131-091f-4bef-a040-4c88ce600507

Skinner, T.C., Barnard, K., Cradock, S. and Parkin, T. (2007) Patient and professional accuracy of recalled treatment decisions in out-patient consultations. Diabetic Medicine, 24 (5), 557-560. (doi:10.1111/j.1464-5491.2007.02129.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Aims To test the assumption that professional recall of consultation decisions is valid and more accurate than patient recall of consultation decisions.
Methods One hundred and thirty-four consultations between diabetes specialist nurses and diabetes specialist dietitians in an adult out-patient diabetes service were audiotaped. Patients and professionals were asked to recall the treatment decisions made immediately after the consultation. Patient participants were also asked to complete the Health Care Climate Questionnaire (HCC). Recalled decisions, by patient and professional participants, were then compared with those extracted from the audio tapes, and with each other.
Results The mean duration of consultations was 27 min. Patients recalled a mean of 2.5 (sd 1.4) decisions per consultation, and professionals a mean of 3.2 (sd 1.6) decisions per consultation. A mean of 2.2 (sd 1.1, range 0–4) decisions per consultation were identified on the audiotapes. Patients recalled a mean of 2.3 (sd 1.4, range 0–6) decisions per consultations that could not be found on the tapes, with professionals recalling a mean of 1.7 (sd 1.2, range 0–6) decisions per consultation that could not be found on the tape. More autonomy, as measured by the HCCQ, was correlated with better professional recall (r = 0.17; P < 0.05).
Conclusions Both patients and professionals have poor recall of decisions made in diabetes out-patient consultations. Although the mean professional recall is marginally better than that of the patients, they recall a vast number of unmade decisions and the implications of these being recorded in patients' notes is substantial.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: 15 March 2007
Keywords: communication, consultation, recall

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 55696
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/55696
ISSN: 0742-3071
PURE UUID: c7acd67c-5c66-421b-82a9-22af5f11e42f

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 05 Aug 2008
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 10:56

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: T.C. Skinner
Author: K. Barnard
Author: S. Cradock
Author: T. Parkin

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×