Bhopal J S, Bhopal R S
J R Coll Gen Pract. 1989 Apr;39(321):156-7.
Consultation patterns in a practice with no appointment system, situated in a socially deprived area, were examined to confirm or refute one doctor's perception that the consultation rate was much higher than average. Seventy five per cent of a sample of patients (n = 394) had consulted in the previous year. The mean annual consultation rate was 3.8 (range 0 to 29) but the median was 3.0 and the mode 0. Among 222 patients consulting over one month the mean annual consultation rate was 10.0 (range 0 to 47) with a median of 9.0 and a mode of 6. The duration of consultation (n = 506) varied from one to 25 minutes (with mean, median and modal values of 5.3, 4.0 and 4 minutes respectively) and 53% of patients received between one and four minutes. The overall consultation rate was not high, particularly in view of the socioeconomic deprivation of the practice population, and the doctor's perception of excessive consultation was explained by the high consultation rate among attenders. The consultation pattern, particularly of males, was not conducive to a preventive approach. The mean was a poor descriptor of the average consultation rate or duration.
对位于社会贫困地区的一家无预约制度诊所的诊疗模式进行了调查，以证实或反驳一位医生认为该诊所诊疗率远高于平均水平的看法。在一个患者样本（n = 394）中，75%的患者在前一年进行过诊疗。年平均诊疗率为3.8（范围为0至29），但中位数为3.0，众数为0。在222名一个月内就诊的患者中，年平均诊疗率为10.0（范围为0至47），中位数为9.0，众数为6。诊疗时长（n = 506）从1分钟到25分钟不等（均值、中位数和众数分别为5.3分钟、4.0分钟和4分钟），53%的患者诊疗时长在1至4分钟之间。总体诊疗率并不高，尤其是考虑到该诊所患者的社会经济贫困状况，而就诊者中较高的诊疗率解释了医生对过度诊疗的看法。诊疗模式，尤其是男性患者的诊疗模式，不利于采取预防措施。均值对于平均诊疗率或诊疗时长而言并不是一个很好的描述指标。
