The impact of the desktop computer on rheumatologist-patient consultations.

This study examined the impact of computers on rheumatologist-patient communication. Fifteen rheumatologist-patient consultations were videotaped and analysed qualitatively. Patients routinely ceased their reporting on a particular topic when the rheumatologist's body and gaze were reoriented toward the computer. Rheumatologists employed the computer to direct the consultation, whilst patients took advantage of spaces in the consultation created by the physician's use of the computer to continue talking, often involving extended pain reporting. These findings are discussed in relation to the potential impact of the computer in the consultation.