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Q In patients with self limiting conditions, is prompting general practitioners (GPs) to elicit patient concerns beneficial?
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
unconcealed.*
Blinding:
unblinded.*
Follow up period:
immediately after consultation.
Setting:
4 semirural training general practices in the southeast UK.
Patients:
110 patients presenting with self limiting conditions. Exclusion criteria: referral to hospital, prescription given for purposes other than symptom control, or spontaneous expression by the patient of a clear concern about his/her illness.
Intervention:
after a history and examination, 56 patients were allocated to written prompts to the GP to facilitate elicitation of patient concerns. Written prompts were “May I ask if you have any concerns about this [illness or …
Footnotes
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For correspondence: Dr M McLean, Henfield Medical Centre, Henfield, UK. malcolm.mcleangp-h82060.nhs.uk
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Source of funding: no external funding.
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