Pauses in doctor-patient conversation during computer use: The design significance of their durations and accompanying topic changes

摘要: Talk is often suspended during medical consultations while the clinician interacts with patient's records and other information. This study of four general practitioners (GPs) focused on these suspensions adjacent conversational turns. Conversation analysis revealed how GPs took action to close conversations down prior attending records, resulting in a 'free turn' that could be taken up by either GP or patient. The durations intervening pauses were also analysed, exposing hitherto unobserved 10-second timeframe within which both patient showed preference for conversation resumed. Resumption was more likely achieved 10s when GP's paper-based rather than computer-based. Subsequent topic changes resumption talk has 5-second timeframe, undocumented; exceed this it rare previous resumed without restatement. Data recorded home suggest timeframes are present family conversations. We argue considering two designing systems use settings, discuss possible outcomes.