Objective: To study the clinical interview to find the orientation (to the patient or the illness) adopted by Primary Care doctors.
Design: Crossover study.
Setting: Primary Care.
Patients and other participants: 74 clinical interviews, covering 11 Primary Care doctors and five third-year family medicine interns, were recorded on video.
Interventions: Evaluation of the interviews using a validated evaluation model, which analyses the objectives set and the information received and given.
Measurements and main results: A climate of confidence was created in 96% of the interviews. The nature of the problem was identified and associated factors were investigated in 67% of the consultations. In the problem-solving part of the interview, the course of action proposed was discussed in detail in 96% of cases, whereas in less than 10% of the consultations were patients' preferences or opinions about the diagnosis and treatment explored, or any interest shown in opinions on the same.
Conclusion: In both the investigative and the problem-solving phases, aims to do with the biological side of the illness were mostly achieved, but there was little orientation shown towards involving the patient.