Andreas Klement1, Matthias Oemler2, Andreas Wienke3, Matthias Richter4, Uwe Wolfradt5. 1. Sektion Allgemeinmedizin, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Deutschland; Profilzentrum für Gesundheitswissenschaften, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Deutschland. Electronic address: andreas.klement@medizin.uni-halle.de. 2. Sektion Allgemeinmedizin, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Deutschland. 3. Institut für Medizinische Epidemiologie, Biometrie und Informatik, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Deutschland; Profilzentrum für Gesundheitswissenschaften, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Deutschland. 4. Institut für Medizinische Soziologie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Deutschland; Profilzentrum für Gesundheitswissenschaften, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Deutschland. 5. Institut für Psychologie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Deutschland.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Mental disorders are common in family practice, but their meaning for variables of consultation is rarely considered. Thus, we examined the influence of mental disorders on patients' expectations regarding time, openness and seriousness as well as ratings of satisfaction with the consultation. METHODS: Prior to consultation for 219 patients a screening for anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9) and hypochondriasis (WI-7) was performed. Before and after the consultation patient expectations and ratings were recorded. Subgroup analysis was based on Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: Almost half of the sample were screen-positive. Prior the consultation, screen positive patients had higher ratings for expectations compared with screen negative patients, but did not differ in their experiences after the consultation. There was no association between consultation length and ratings for satisfaction. DISCUSSION: Patients screened positive for mental disorders do not necessarily require longer consultation length, if their expectations regarding openness and seriousness are met. This is underlines the importance of communication skills in undergraduate medical education and specialist training for future GPs.
INTRODUCTION:Mental disorders are common in family practice, but their meaning for variables of consultation is rarely considered. Thus, we examined the influence of mental disorders on patients' expectations regarding time, openness and seriousness as well as ratings of satisfaction with the consultation. METHODS: Prior to consultation for 219 patients a screening for anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9) and hypochondriasis (WI-7) was performed. Before and after the consultation patient expectations and ratings were recorded. Subgroup analysis was based on Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: Almost half of the sample were screen-positive. Prior the consultation, screen positive patients had higher ratings for expectations compared with screen negative patients, but did not differ in their experiences after the consultation. There was no association between consultation length and ratings for satisfaction. DISCUSSION: Patients screened positive for mental disorders do not necessarily require longer consultation length, if their expectations regarding openness and seriousness are met. This is underlines the importance of communication skills in undergraduate medical education and specialist training for future GPs.
Authors: Ana Carolina Reis Tadeu; Inês Rosendo Carvalho E Silva Caetano; Inês Jorge de Figueiredo; Luiz Miguel Santiago Journal: BMC Fam Pract Date: 2020-07-28 Impact factor: 2.497