Discourse Analysis of Resident-Patient Consultations

This research reports how residents and patients communicate: their respective speech patterns (e.g., question-asking and interruptions), patient satisfaction with the way residents ask them questions (e.g., open-ended versus closed ended questions and intrusive versus cooperative interruptions). This study is unique in that it samples only residents in contrast to mixed sampling with residents and experienced physicians as done in a number of studies in the field. Findings of our study should be of great curiosity and interest to medical students who would be doing their internship soon; teaching physicians who are mentors to residents, as well as patients who would at one time or the other, interact with residents.