The process and content of general-practice consultations that involve prescription of antibiotic agents.

We devised a reliable coding system in order to analyse interactional events between general practitioners and patients that were observed on the videotapes of 201 consultations in which an antibiotic agent was prescribed. Of total consultation events, doctors contributed 14% on the collection of information about the presenting condition for which antibiotic agents were prescribed; 22% on the giving of such information; 17% on social exchanges; and 21% of events were devoted to other problems that emerged during the consultation. Patient questions made up 2% of events and were encouraged specifically by 1% of events. Whereas 75% of patients were told the dose and length of the course, only 46% of patients were told the name of the antibiotic agent, only 10% of patients were told of side-effects, and no patient was told what to do if he or she forgot a dose. Not surprisingly, with the exception of the justification of the treatment that was chosen, practitioners seldom used techniques which have been shown to be effective in the improvement of patient compliance or recall of information. Given that antibiotic agents are prescribed commonly, and compliance is frequently poor, our findings have implications for undergraduate, vocational and continuing education.