Interruptions in general practice.

Twenty routine General Practice surgeries were studied in an Irish urban setting by 2 independent observers. There were 212 observed consultations and 53 (25%) were interrupted. Of this 53 there were 80 interruptions in total, 32 (40%) of which were significant. The commonest source of interruption was the telephone (50%). This was followed by interruptions from the door, the patient's mobile phone, and the doctor being required to leave the room.