Communicating about expected course and re-consultation for respiratory tract infections in children: an exploratory study.
Acute respiratory tract infection is the commonest reason for children consulting, and about one-fifth re-consult for the same illness episode. Fifty-nine audiotape recordings from nine general practitioners (GPs) consulting with children with acute respiratory tract infections were examined. Prognosis was mentioned in only 22 consultations, with GPs predicting a brief course in 11, a possibly longer than expected course in six, and with predicted duration not made explicit in five. Carers were invited to re-consult if they were 'unhappy' with the child's condition in 11 consultations, and specific triggers to re-consult were provided in 15. A patient information leaflet was given out only once. Providing carers with an evidence-based account of the likely clinical course and communicating specific triggers to re-consult may help them manage more of these illness episodes without re-consulting.
Butler
Christopher C
CC
University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff. butlercc@cf.ac.uk
Rollnick
Stephen
S
Kinnersley
Paul
P
Tapper-Jones
Lorna
L
Houston
Helen
H
D000208:Acute Disease; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D004739:England; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012008:Recurrence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D019233:Retreatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013637:Tape Recording