title: Sharing control of appointment length with patients in general practice: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is little published research into the impact, on both doctor and patient, of handing over responsibility for choosing appointment length to the patient.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate what impact giving patients control of their appointment length has on the patient and doctor experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study in a single medical practice in Inverness, Scotland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible patients making a 'routine' appointment were given a choice of appointment length (5, 10, 15, or 20 minutes). After the consultation, patients were invited to take part in a focused interview. Doctors were asked to keep an audio diary and their experience was explored further in a facilitated focus group. Data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Key themes that emerged for patients included the impact of the shift in power and the impact of introducing the issue of time. For doctors, important themes that emerged were impacts on the provider, on the doctor-patient relationship, and on the consultation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Giving patients greater responsibility for choosing appointment length may improve the experience for both doctors and patients.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate General Practice Education, North of Scotland, UK. rod.sampson@nhs.net
authors.forename: Rod
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sampson
authors.forename: Jeremiah
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Rourke
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hendry
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heaney
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holden
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thain
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: MacVicar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D058006:General Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012606:Scotland; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
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