TY - JOUR
T1 - Video analysis of communication in paediatric consultations in primary care
AU - Cahill, Patricia
AU - Papageorgiou, Alexia
PY - 2007/11
Y1 - 2007/11
N2 - Background: There is a paucity of research evidence concerning communication in paediatric consultations between GPs, adults, and child patients. Aim: This study was carried out to identify features of the interaction between a doctor, a child patient aged 6-12 years, and their carer in the consultation associated with the child's participation. Design of study: A qualitative analysis of video recordings of 31 primary care paediatric consultations was undertaken, using strategies from the methodology of conversation analysis. Setting: Primary care, Suffolk, UK. Method: NHS GPs from three primary care trusts (PCTs), were invited to participate in this study. Sixteen volunteers from this sample took part. Results: Analysis of the interaction in the consultations revealed that the children had little involvement. Children participated when invited to do so, and took more time than adults to answer a doctor's question. An adult carer was less likely to answer on behalf of a child, when they were in a position to see that the doctor's gaze was directed at the child, and the doctor addressed the child by name. Adult carers, who had not voiced their own concerns first, were seen to interrupt doctor-child talk. In consultations where the participants sat in a triangular arrangement, all parties being an equal distance apart, triadic talk was noted. Conclusion: Child involvement in the primary care consultation is associated with adult carers being able to voice their own concerns early in the consultation, and children being invited to speak with the appropriate recipient design.
AB - Background: There is a paucity of research evidence concerning communication in paediatric consultations between GPs, adults, and child patients. Aim: This study was carried out to identify features of the interaction between a doctor, a child patient aged 6-12 years, and their carer in the consultation associated with the child's participation. Design of study: A qualitative analysis of video recordings of 31 primary care paediatric consultations was undertaken, using strategies from the methodology of conversation analysis. Setting: Primary care, Suffolk, UK. Method: NHS GPs from three primary care trusts (PCTs), were invited to participate in this study. Sixteen volunteers from this sample took part. Results: Analysis of the interaction in the consultations revealed that the children had little involvement. Children participated when invited to do so, and took more time than adults to answer a doctor's question. An adult carer was less likely to answer on behalf of a child, when they were in a position to see that the doctor's gaze was directed at the child, and the doctor addressed the child by name. Adult carers, who had not voiced their own concerns first, were seen to interrupt doctor-child talk. In consultations where the participants sat in a triangular arrangement, all parties being an equal distance apart, triadic talk was noted. Conclusion: Child involvement in the primary care consultation is associated with adult carers being able to voice their own concerns early in the consultation, and children being invited to speak with the appropriate recipient design.
KW - Children
KW - Communication
KW - Consultation
KW - General practice
KW - Paediatric
KW - Triadic
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=35948965708&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3399/096016407782317838
DO - 10.3399/096016407782317838
M3 - Article
C2 - 17976287
AN - SCOPUS:35948965708
SN - 0960-1643
VL - 57
SP - 866
EP - 871
JO - British Journal of General Practice
JF - British Journal of General Practice
IS - 544
ER -