Impact of Distractions on GP Consultations
Author Information
Author(s): Jiwa Moyez, McKinley Robert, O'Shea Carolyn, Arnet Hayley, Spilsbury Katrina, Smith Marthe
Primary Institution: Curtin University of Technology
Hypothesis
Do extraneous distractions affect the performance of general practitioners during consultations?
Conclusion
Extraneous distractions had no impact on GP performance in this underpowered pilot study.
Supporting Evidence
- 24 of 36 consultations were recorded with sufficient clarity for scoring.
- The mean difference in LAP scores was 0.22, indicating no significant impact from interruptions.
- The study had only 80% power to detect a difference of 8 or more in mean LAP score.
Takeaway
This study looked at how interruptions affect doctors when they see patients. It found that interruptions didn't really change how well the doctors did their job.
Methodology
Six GPs were video recorded consulting six actor-patients, with half the consultations interrupted, and performance assessed using the Leicester Assessment Package.
Potential Biases
Agreement between assessors on GP performance was poor, indicating potential bias in scoring.
Limitations
The study was underpowered and had a small sample size, which may affect the reliability of the results.
Participant Demographics
Six volunteer general practitioners participated in the study.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.83
Confidence Interval
95%CI: -1.9–2.3
Statistical Significance
p = 0.83
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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