Synthesis of Qualitative Linguistic Research--a Pilot Review Integrating and Generalizing Findings on Doctor-patient Interaction

Objective: There is a broad range qualitative linguistic research (sequential analysis) on doctor-patient interaction that had only a marginal impact on clinical research and practice. At least in parts this is due to the lack of qualitative research synthesis in the field. Available research summaries are not systematic in their methodology. This paper proposes a synthesis methodology for qualitative, sequential analytic research on doctor-patient interaction.

Methods: The presented methodology is not new but specifies standard methodology of qualitative research synthesis for sequential analytic research.

Results: This pilot review synthesizes twelve studies on German-speaking doctor-patient interactions, identifies 45 verbal actions of doctors and structures them in a systematics of eight interaction components. Three interaction components ("Listening", "Asking for information", and "Giving information") seem to be central and cover two thirds of the identified action types.

Conclusions: This pilot review demonstrates that sequential analytic research can be synthesized in a consistent and meaningful way, thus providing a more comprehensive and unbiased integration of research. Future synthesis of qualitative research in the area of health communication research is very much needed.

Practice Implications: Qualitative research synthesis can support the development of quantitative research and of educational materials in medical training and patient training.