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Introduction: In response to evolving patient‐centred care initiatives, this study investigates teasing in Chinese outpatient interactions. By exploring how teasing impacts knowledge exchange and decision‐making processes, the research underscores its utility in enhancing patient engagement and communication efficacy, aligning with China's healthcare reform objectives. Methods: Utilizing conversation analysis, the study meticulously examines a series of outpatient interactions, identifying and analyzing instances of teasing. Through a detailed investigation of the sequential organization, design features, and interactional tasks accomplished by teasing, the research unravels the complex mechanisms through which teasing operates within clinical settings. Results: Findings reveal that teasing is a sequential accomplishment that is intertwined with institutional contingencies and embedded in overarching sequential projects of clinics. Teases often arise from subtle cues that may lead to delicate moments and are crafted with a blend of playfulness and seriousness, serving to bridge the gap between patient experiences and medical expertise. This study highlights how teasing facilitates the exchange of knowledge and influences collaborative decision‐making, marking a departure from its more casual use in everyday interactions. Teasing acts as a catalyst for a more profound comprehension of medical facts, encouraging patients to actively participate in their care by expressing concerns and preferences, thus aligning medical decisions with patient autonomy. The responses to teases vary, reflecting the complexity of clinical communication and the need for a delicate balance between humour and professionalism. Conclusions: The study underscores the significance of teasing as a multifaceted communicative practice within outpatient clinical interactions. It highlights how teasing can contribute to a more nuanced and patient‐centred approach to healthcare, enhancing the collaborative exploration of medical advice and fostering a more engaging and empathetic clinical environment. Patient or Public Contribution: This study utilized real outpatient interactions, with participants' informed consent. The analysis focused on authentic teasing exchanges between clinicians and patients, ensuring the findings reflect genuine communication practices in healthcare settings. Participants, including both healthcare professionals and patients, were informed about the study's goals and their essential role in providing insights into clinician–patient communication, contributing to a deeper understanding of interaction dynamics in outpatient clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with schizophrenia in rural areas of China face severe delays in getting appropriate treatment due to poverty, transportation, and limited availability of mental healthcare services. However, the experiences of care-seeking among patients with delayed diagnosis and treatment in rural areas remain poorly understood, and it remains unclear how these experiences influence patients' medical mistrust or expectations of care. This study aims to fill that void. Methods: We applied a qualitative phenomenological method. Patients were recruited through purposive sampling at a psychiatric hospital in Harbin, China. Semi-structured, one-to-one interviews were conducted, guided by an interview outline. Thematic analysis was performed using Colaizzi's seven-step method. Results: Data saturation was achieved after interviewing 13 participants aged 21 to 53 years. Three themes with eight subthemes were identified: (i) Barriers to seeking care, (ii) Feelings for psychiatric treatment, and (iii) Demand for mental healthcare. Several factors that may impede the timely diagnosis and treatment were identified, including patients, physicians, and institutions. The participants described their feelings of adverse treatment experiences, as well as expectations arising from this process. It predominantly covers awareness of the disease, supportive access to care, and geographic accessibility of services. Conclusion: Patients with delayed diagnosis and treatment in rural areas often have negative experiences and various needs for mental health services in the pursuit of effective treatments. Policymakers and health planners should seriously consider the current challenges in rural mental healthcare to develop comprehensive strategies for improving prehospital delays and medical experience for this group of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]