title: Moving with the times - familiarity versus formality in Australian general practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Forms of address between patients and general practitioners is an underexplored area which may influence productive dialogue within a consultation. This article aims to describe how Australian patients prefer to be addressed by their GP, how patients prefer to address their GP, and the factors influencing these preferences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty consecutive patients of 13 randomly selected GPs (n=260) were surveyed on preferences for use of names in consultations and the factors influencing these preferences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety percent of patients prefer to be addressed by their first name. Thirty-five percent of patients prefer to call the GP by first name, 27% by title and last name, 21% by title only, and 10% by title and first name. A range of influencing factors was identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings allow GPs to feel confident in addressing their patients informally. They indicate the diversity of patient preferences for addressing their GP and the factors influencing these choices.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Griffith University, Logan, Queensland, Australia. romaynemoore@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Romayne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yelland
authors.forename: Shu-Kay
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D003142:Communication; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009275:Names; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D055815:Young Adult