Space and Interaction Trial: Room Design and Patient-physician Interaction

SIT Trial: The Effect of Clinical Room Design on the Quality of the Clinical Encounter

The purpose of this study is to improve the clinical encounter through the design of the clinical environment. We will conduct a randomized controlled trial to measure the extent to which a newly designed clinical room, compared to a traditional room, affects the patient-physician interaction. We will judge this outcome by (a) videotaping encounters; and (b) conducting post-visit surveys with patients and an interview with physicians. We will use both qualitative and quantitative tools, including a validated and widely used interaction coding system on the videotapes, to draw inferences from these data.

Eligible Clinicians:

1. In the Department of GIM or Preventive Medicine
2. Able and Willing to participate in research study.

Eligible patients:

1. Patient of a clinician participating in the study
2. 18 years or older
3. Seeing clinician for return/summary visit.

Exclusion Criteria:

1.) Not able to give informed consent.