Smoking cessation advice in consultations with health problems not related to smoking? Relevance criteria in Danish general practice consultations.
OBJECTIVE
To identify frames of interaction that allow smoking cessation advice in general practice consultations.


METHODS
Qualitative study based on individual in-depth interviews with GPs and their patients. Each of the GPs' consultations were observed during a three-day period. Interviews primarily addressed the consultations that had been observed. The concept of "frames" described by Goffman was deployed as an analytic tool.


METHODS
Danish general practice.


METHODS
Six GPs and 11 of their patients.


RESULTS
Both GPs and patients evaluated potential issues to be included during consultations by relevance criteria. Relevance criteria served the purpose of limiting the number of issues in individual consultations. Issues could be included if they connected to something already communicated in a consultation. Smoking cessation advice was subject to these relevance criteria and was primarily discussed if it posed a particular risk to a particular patient. Smoking cessation advice also occurred in conversations addressing the patient's well-being. If occurring without any other readable frame, smoking cessation advice was apt to be perceived by patients as part of a public campaign.


CONCLUSIONS
Relevance criteria in the shape of communication of particular risks to particular patients and small-talk about well-being reflect the concept of "frames" by Goffman. Criteria of relevance limit the number of issues in individual consultations. Relevance criteria may explain why smoking cessation advice has not yet been implemented in many more consultations.
Guassora
Ann Dorrit
AD
Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. anngu@sund.ku.dk
Baarts
Charlotte
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D003718:Denmark; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires