Table 1

Studies based on interviews of doctors about consultation length and the management of psychological problems

Author/year/location
Aim
No. of practices/doctors
No of patients/consultation
Mean consult'n length
Method of measuring consult'n length
Method of study
% of eligible doctors particip'ing
Conclusions/findings

Rost USA 1994 [28]
To describe preferences & barriers to rural primary care physicians treating depression

53


Semistructured Interviews
86% Random sample
30% of primary care physicians state that lack of time, & 23% that patient not recognising problem, is the biggest barrier to treating depression
Howe 1996 UK [44]
To assess factors that influence GPs' identification of psychological distress
-/19 GPs, random sample in Sheffield
-
-
-
GPs sent postal 'questionnaire, then semi-structured interviewed

Time shortage recorded as factor in 15/19
Pollock 2003 UK [31]
To investigate GP perspectives on consultation times and the management of depression in general practice
8/19 Not representative
-
8–10 mins booking times
-
Qualitative, cross-sectional GP semi-structured interviews

Dealing with depression, particularly first consultation, takes longer. GPs accommodate this by running over time.
Smith 2004 UK [32]
To explore GPs' views on clinical guidelines on management of depression & barriers to use
-/11. Picked to representative of GPs
-
5–10 minute booking interval
-
Qualitative, cross-sectional In-depth interviews with GPs
73%
Lack of time major barrier to guideline use

Hutton and Gunn BMC Health Services Research 2007 7:71   doi:10.1186/1472-6963-7-71