Interviewing style and response to family information by family practice residents.

The visits of 50 new patients seeing 20 family practice residents were audiotaped. Analysis of transcripts of all conversation involving family-related content showed that the resident physicians used a high control interviewing style consisting mostly of closed-end questions and declarative statements. They rarely asked open-end questions. After eliciting family information, the residents missed numerous opportunities to express empathy or concern verbally. The physicians seldom connected family information obtained during the visit with the patient's ongoing or potential health problems. Of 12 patients reporting a life-threatening familial illness in a close relative, only one received any relevant patient education. The closed style of interviewing appeared to interfere with the physicians' gathering and responding to family information.