A change of the physicians' understanding of the encounter parallels competence development

Patients today complain that physicians do not listen. There is a need to improve the professional competence in the patient encounter. According to theory, competence is a result of how people perceive their work. Observation and reflection can improve the competence. The aim of this study was to investigate if physicians can develop a more patient-centred consultation style by an experienced-based specialist course and how such a development is related to the physicians understanding of the task. The physicians video recorded consultations and reflected on these. The video consultations were analysed with a time study and Pendleton et al.'s consultation schedule [Pendleton D, Schoefield T, Tate P, Havelock P. The consultation: an approach to learning and teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1984.]. Before-after questions were answered. The study indicates that seven out of 10 physicians participating in the course had developed a patient-centred attitude and acted according to it. The time study gave ambiguous results. This study implicates that it is possible to initiate competence development by influencing the understanding of the encounter. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.