Giving patients an audiotape of their GP consultation: a randomised controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Providing patients with an audiotape of their medical consultation has been a relatively common practice in oncology clinics for some years. However, broader generalisability of the technique has yet to be examined.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of providing patients with an audiotape of their consultation in a general practice setting.


METHODS
Randomised controlled trial: 95 experimental participants, 85 controls.


METHODS
Routine surgeries run by two general practitioners (GPs) in two different health centres.


METHODS
All patients attending GP appointments were eligible for inclusion. Patients were followed up by telephone 7-10 days later.


RESULTS
More than half (61%) of the patients who received a tape listened to it. Among listeners, 64% rated the tape useful or very useful; 24% noticed information not heard in the consultation. Half of listeners (46%) said that their understanding of the consultation improved after listening to the tape. Half of the listeners (48%) shared the tape with others, of whom 71% found sharing helpful or very helpful. However, 21% of those who shared the information with others found this unhelpful or very unhelpful, suggesting that patients may need to be briefed on the potential risks of sharing. At follow-up a week later, it emerged that being given a tape had no effect on adherence with GPs' advice, nor on anxiety about conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Providing patients with an audiotape of their GP consultation was positively rated by many patients. Although there were no detectable clinical effects at follow-up, the technique merits further evaluation in general practice.
Liddell
Christine
C
University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland. c.liddell@ulster.ac.uk
Rae
Gordon
G
Brown
Tom R M
TR
Johnston
David
D
Coates
Vivien
V
Mallett
John
J
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D013637:Tape Recording