Descriptive study of cooperative language in primary care consultations bymale and female doctors

Objective To compare the use of some of the characteristics of male and fem ale language by male and female primary care practitioners during consultat ions. Design Doctors' use of the language of dominance and support was explored b y using concordancing software. Three areas were examined: mean number of w ords per consultation; relative frequency of question tags; and use of migr ated directives The analysis of language associated with cooperative talk e xamines relevant words or phrases and their immediate context Subjects 26 male and 14 female doctors in general practice, in a total of 3 73 consecutive consultations. Setting West Midlands. Results Doctors spoke significantly more words than patients, but the numbe r of words spoken by male and female doctors did not differ significantly. Question tags were used far more frequently by doctors (P<0.001) than by pa tients or companions. Frequency of use was similar in male and female docto rs, and the speech styles in consultation were similar. Conclusions These data show that male and female doctors use a speech style which is not gender specific, contrary to findings elsewhere; doctors cons ulted in an overtly non-directive, negotiated style, which is realised thro ugh suggestions and affective comments. This mode of communication is the c ore teaching of communication skills courses. These results suggest that me n have more to learn to achieve competence as professional communicators.