Patients' perceptions of GP non-verbal communication: a qualitative study.

<bold>Background: </bold>During doctor-patient interactions, many messages are transmitted without words, through non-verbal communication.<bold>Aim: </bold>To elucidate the types of non-verbal behaviours perceived by patients interacting with family GPs and to determine which cues are perceived most frequently.<bold>Design Of Study: </bold>In-depth interviews with patients of family GPs.<bold>Setting: </bold>Nine family practices in different regions of Poland.<bold>Method: </bold>At each practice site, interviews were performed with four patients who were scheduled consecutively to see their family doctor.<bold>Results: </bold>Twenty-four of 36 studied patients spontaneously perceived non-verbal behaviours of the family GP during patient-doctor encounters. They reported a total of 48 non-verbal cues. The most frequent features were tone of voice, eye contact, and facial expressions. Less frequent were examination room characteristics, touch, interpersonal distance, GP clothing, gestures, and posture.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>Non-verbal communication is an important factor by which patients spontaneously describe and evaluate their interactions with a GP. Family GPs should be trained to better understand and monitor their own non-verbal behaviours towards patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]