The communication of medical information in general practice consultations as a function of patients' social class.

Abstract A total of seventy-nine (79) naturally occurring general practice consultations were videotaped and measured for length of consultation. Instances of information giving by the doctor were also scored. Four types of information giving were identified and scored separately: information given voluntarily, explanations given voluntarily, information given in answer to a patient's question, and explanations given in answer to a question. The patients were classified according to their sex and their social class. Each dependent measure was analysed separately to determine the relative importance of doctor, sex of patient and social class of patient in accounting for the total variance. The findings were: o 1. Differences between the doctors accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in duration ofconsultation . 2. Differences between male and female patients accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in information given in answer to questions . 3. Social class differences between patients accounted for a significant proportion of the variance inexplanations volunteered by the doctors . The implications of these findings are discussed with reference to the problems of influencing a patient's behaviour and the management of chronic disease.

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