Paskins, Z, Sanders, T, Croft, PR, Green, J, McKinley, R and Hassell, AB (2018) Non-disclosure of symptoms in primary care: an observational study. Family Practice. ISSN 1460-2229

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Abstract

Background: Symptoms form a major component of patient agendas, with the need for an explanation of symptoms being a prominent reason for consultation. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of different symptoms pre-consultation, to investigate whether intention to mention a symptom in the consultation varied between patients and across symptoms, and to determine how patients' intended agendas for mentioning symptoms compared with what was discussed. Method: We videorecorded consultations of an unselected sample of people aged 45 and over consulting their GP in seven different practices in UK primary care. A pre-consultation questionnaire recorded the patient's agenda for the consultation, current symptoms and symptoms the patient intended to discuss with their GP. The videorecorded consultation was viewed and all patient agendas and 'symptoms with intention to discuss' were compared with the actual topics of discussion. Results: Totally, 190 patients participated. Eighty-one (42.6%) were female and the mean age was 68 (range 46-93). Joint pain was the most commonly reported symptom. One hundred thirty-nine (81.8% of those reporting symptoms) patients reported intention to discuss a symptom. In 43 (22.6%) consultations, 67 symptoms (27.2%), where an intention to discuss had been expressed, remained undisclosed. Tiredness and sleeping difficulty were more likely to be withheld than other symptoms after an intention to discuss had been expressed. Of the more physically located symptoms, joint pain was the most likely to remain undisclosed. Conclusion: This study suggests that the extent of symptom non-disclosure varies between patients, physicians and symptoms. Further work needs to explore the consequences of non-disclosure.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: This is the accepted author manuscript (AAM). The final published version (version of record) is available online via Oxford University Press at https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmy023 - please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
Uncontrolled Keywords: consultation, doctor–patient relationship, general practitioner, primary care
Subjects: R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Primary Care Health Sciences
Related URLs:
Depositing User: Symplectic
Date Deposited: 17 May 2018 12:53
Last Modified: 07 Apr 2019 01:30
URI: https://eprints.keele.ac.uk/id/eprint/4918

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