Introduction:

Consultation time is a fundamental resource and is crucial for doctor and patient satisfaction. A longer consultation time seems to be associated with greater satisfaction for both patients and doctors and contributes to an improvement in the quality of life of patients with multimorbidity. However, there is not enough evidence to say that an increase in consultation time is beneficial for patients and there are several factors that can influence its length.

Aims:

Assess patients’ perception of consultation time, compare the opinion of doctors and patients regarding the adequacy of the length and satisfaction with the consultation, and identify factors that influence the consultation time.

Methods:

Cross-sectional mixed-methods study with a convergent design. To obtain representative data from the health care centre under study, a sample of of 380 face-to-face medical consultations was calculated. Anonymous questionnaires were given to doctors and patients after the consultation. A descriptive and inferential statistical analysis and a thematic analysis of the qualitative data were performed.

Results:

We studied 403 consultations. Patients perceived a longer duration of the consultation than the time measured (p<0.001) and considered the duration as adequate in a higher proportion than doctors (p<0.001). Patients’ satisfaction was higher with longer consultations (p=0.004), while physicians reported greater satisfaction with consultations of intermediate duration (p<0.001). Consultations carried out by the family doctor or by female doctors (p<0.001), patients with more chronic problems (p=0.006) and the approach of more problems in the consultation or of a new problem in a scheduled consultation (p<0.001) were associated with higher consultation times.

Conclusions:

The consultation time plays an important role in the satisfaction of both patients and doctors. The autonomy of health units andprofessionals to adapt consultation times in certain contexts could increase the satisfaction of doctors and patients.

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