Improving the effectiveness of the medical visit: a brief visit-structuring workshop changes patients' perceptions of primary care visits.
OBJECTIVE
To teach visit-structuring strategies to primary care clinicians with a 1.5-h experiential workshop and assess its effect on patient perceptions of their medical visits.


METHODS
We developed and conducted a 90 min workshop for 75 clinicians from seven primary care clinics, and evaluated the effectiveness of the workshop by assessing changes in patients' ratings of visit qualities from 1 week prior (n=301) to 1 week after (n=322) the workshop. Patients rated their physicians' visit-structuring skills as well as satisfaction with their medical visits.


RESULTS
Patients were highly satisfied with their visits both before and after the workshop. Post-workshop ratings of medical visits were more likely to indicate that all problems were addressed during the visit.


CONCLUSIONS
A brief workshop had a positive measurable effect on patients' perception of their medical visits. Future research should address the utility of patient rated assessments of visit characteristics.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians' ability to establish and maintain a productive structure in primary care office visit is an important skill that can improve the quality of care, and some changes in physician visit-structuring behavior can be measured using patient perceptions.
Haas
Leonard J
LJ
Department of Family & Preventive Medicine, University of Utah, 375 Chipeta Way, Suite A, Salt Lake City, 84108, USA. Lhaas@dfpm.utah.edu
Glazer
Kelly
K
Houchins
John
J
Terry
Susan
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003142:Communication; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009819:Office Visits; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D014589:Utah