The effect of the question "Is there anything else?" asked at the end of a patient consultation in a family practice

Abstract

The effect of asking the question “Is there anything else?” toward the end of selected consultations was assessed. A study was conducted using a sample of 200 patients from a Johannesburg general family practice, randomly allocated into intervention and control groups. Details of patient demographics and of the consultations in both groups were recorded. Patients from the study group were asked “Is there anything else?” at the transition to closure of the consultation. The responses elicited were recorded and compared to issues raised spontaneously by patients in the control group at the same stage of the consultation. 43% of the patients in the study group used the opportunity to introduce new issues not yet discussed. 26% of the patients in the control group asked questions at the same point in the consultation. The problems raised were similar in each group, as was the time added to the consultation. This would suggest that patients will raise more issues if given the opportunity than they may have raised unprompted. Dealing with these issues may make the consultation longer, but may prevent unnecessary future visits and investigations.