Where Is the Patient’s Chair? Differences in General Practitioner Consultation Room Layouts—An Exploratory Questionnaire
Open accessAbstract
Background: Health clinic design varies from country to country. The layout of a general practitioner’s (GP’s) consulting room may influence the physician’s or patient’s experience. The aim of this study is to explore and investigate the layout of GP’s consulting rooms around the world and to describe any significant differences. Methods: Between 3rd July and 2nd August 2018, an internet-based questionnaire on Google Docs was distributed by email, social media and WhatsApp platforms to several worldwide rural medicine groups. Analysis of an internet-based questionnaire to explore possible layouts of consultation rooms within practices was performed. The questionnaire was designed with three distinct sections: first, a GP demographic profile including gender, year of graduation from medical school, country of graduation, and type of practice (private or public); second, questions relating to the office layout; third, a section for questionnaire feedback. Results: 502 responses to the questionnaire were received; 65.3% women and 34.7% men. The most common layout in Europe and America was where the physician and the patient were separated by a desk. The layout where the physician and the patient had a 90º angle facing each other was the most commonly used layout in Asia-Australia and Africa. For GPs who graduated before 1990 and between 1990-2010, the layout where the table was between the patient and physician was preferred. However, physicians graduating after 2010 preferred a layout with the physician and the patient with a 90º angle facing each other. Conclusion: The position of the GP’s desk differs between and within countries as well as the gender of the physician and year of graduation. Next steps should focus on gathering an even greater breadth of GP input, as well as comparing and contrasting those to the preferences of our patients and communities.
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A desk or computer between clinician and patient can create distance and weaken the connection.
“If a desk or computer sits between them, it can create distance and weaken the connection [305].”
From Toward Safer Diagnoses: A SEIPS-Based Narrative Review of Diagnostic Errors (2026) · cites this paper as [305]
Sitting perpendicularly represents teamwork and support.
“For example, sitting perpendicularly represents teamwork and support, as clinicians and patients work together for one common goal.”
From Toward Safer Diagnoses: A SEIPS-Based Narrative Review of Diagnostic Errors (2026) · cites this paper as [305]
Workstation distance and layout impact communication and patient interaction.
“Studies on the workstation’s distance and layout have shown their impact on communication and patient interaction.”
From Toward Safer Diagnoses: A SEIPS-Based Narrative Review of Diagnostic Errors (2026) · cites this paper as [305]
Patient seat arrangement layout in the consultation room significantly influences clinician-patient interactions.
“The layout of patient seat arrangements in the consultation room can also significantly influence clinician-patient interactions.”
From Toward Safer Diagnoses: A SEIPS-Based Narrative Review of Diagnostic Errors (2026) · cites this paper as [305]
Sitting side by side may enhance teaching and communicating instructions.
“Sitting side by side may enhance teaching and communicating instructions.”
From Toward Safer Diagnoses: A SEIPS-Based Narrative Review of Diagnostic Errors (2026) · cites this paper as [305]
Sitting face-to-face can demonstrate authority and help obtain patient compliance.
“Sitting face-to-face can demonstrate authority and can help the doctor or clinician obtain patient compliance.”
From Toward Safer Diagnoses: A SEIPS-Based Narrative Review of Diagnostic Errors (2026) · cites this paper as [305]
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Where is the Doctor's ChairPreprint
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Self-citation
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Sorted by citations
Toward Safer Diagnoses: A SEIPS-Based Narrative Review of Diagnostic Errors
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- Authors
- Floss, M., Hoedebecke, K., & Vidal-Alaball, J.
- Affiliations
- Grupo Hospitalar Conceição (BR)
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hoedebecke, Kyle
- Venue
- F1000Research
- Publisher
- F1000 Research Ltd
- Published
- 2019-08-15
- Volume
- 8
- Pages
- 1439
- ISSN
- 2046-1402 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC7194339
- OpenAlex
- W4246394951
- Cited by
- 4
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 0.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Update notices
- new_version (2020-04-17)
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- F1000Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Primary Care and Health Outcomes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Facilities and Workplace Management
- Keywords
- physician-patient interaction, cross-national comparison, physician gender, patient experience
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