GPS to make a stand on healthier lifestyles

Pilot scheme aims to cut some consultation times – as well as keep doctors healthier

GPS are to take part in a pilot scheme in which they and their patients will be encouraged to stand up during an appointment, rather than both sitting down, to highlight the perils of a sedentary lifestyle. Backed by the Royal College of General Practitioners, the study will also investigate whether doing so will shorten the length of consultations. Standing consultations could lead to beneficial conversations with some patients, particularly about “lifestyle” issues, it is claimed.

GPS are to pilot standing-up appointments to “set an example” to patients about the perils of a sedentary lifestyle.

Backed by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), the study will also investigate whether doing so will shorten the length of consultations.

Starting in the Midlands, the pilot scheme will equip family doctors with £2,000 desks that can switch from sitting to standing formats at the push of a button.

A team from Loughborough University will then compare productivity data from the two modes.

Despite supporting the study, the college has warned that standing appointments may put some people off. Researchers say it will apply only to adults and may not be appropriate for the frail, elderly, or when the patient is about to receive bad news.

However, they also believe the measure will benefit GPS’ health too as, by and large, they spend their days sitting down.

Researchers will ask 500 GPS their views about introducing standing consultations in the new year.

In the spring, a group of GPS in the Midlands will wear Activpal trackers on their thighs to provide data about their movements during and after the working day. They will be given the desks to use in 30-40 halfday sessions over four to six weeks. They will be asked about their wellbeing, productivity and activity level before and after they have used the desks.

Helen Stokes-lampard, the Royal College of General Practitioners chairman, said: “Standing consultations could be an effective way of having productive and beneficial conversations with some of our patients, particularly around ‘lifestyle’ issues and highlighting the need for us all to reduce our sitting time and move more.

“However, we need to be mindful that the Gp-patient consultation relies on high quality, face to face, communication and in some cases, this will not be achieved if the GP is standing while their patient is sitting down.”

The royal college has long campaigned for a minimum consultation time of 15 minutes. The current average is about 10 minutes.

The Loughborough team said the intention of the research is not to shorten consultation times in general, but that standing up may show that shorter slots are appropriate in some circumstances.

Amanda Daley, professor of behavioural medicine at Loughborough, said: “If you come in for a repeat prescription, there’s no reason to sit, so it might be that for certain types of consultation it makes things quicker, and for others it’s just not appropriate. Standing consultations could help GPS to be more active, as well as highlighting to patients the importance of reducing and breaking up their sitting time.”