Byrne and Long (1979)

Aims:

To see the effect of different doctor/patient styles.

Procedures:

 2,500 recorded tapes of medical consultations in several countries including England, Ireland, Australia and Holland were listened.

Findings:

 Most tapes were doctor-centred, where the doctor asked closed questions that required brief replies, the focus was on the first symptoms and problems and the doctor would often ignore any attempts by the patient to mention new or other symptoms.

 The tapes that were patient-centred included open-ended questions, where medical jargon was avoided and the doctors allowed patients to be part of the decision-making process on the cure.

Conclusions:

 Features of doctor-centred style:

• Impersonal atmosphere
• Intent on establishing the link between the symptoms and organic disorder.
• Patient was passive during consultaion.
• No open discussion on diagnosis and alternatives.

 Features of patient centred style:

• Personal atmosphere
• Less controlling role by the doctors
• Open questions, allowing patients to share information

 The researchers concluded that a meaningful dialogue led to more compliance.

Strength:

• Useful – the results led to more research being done on the approached and led doctors to use a more patient-centred approach.
• No subjectivity – the researches were not influenced by facial expressions or gestures, making the results more valid and true to their real purpose of the study.

 Weaknesses:

• Ungeneralizable – the rsearch was conducted in western countries or western cultures, therefore we cannot apply the results to other countries and continents.
• Unethical – diagnosis and health problems of real people were exposed, therefore confidentiality was not kept.
• Savage and Armstrong – they found out that the doctor-led approach resulted in more satisfaction in patients as they look for certainty and authoritarianism.