Background

During initial consultations, patients take on average, 92 seconds to outline their problem, if given the chance. Few achieve this, with clinicians interrupting (25–69% of cases) in as little as 12 seconds, either with an ‘overlap’, (a projection error of when a turn ends), or an ‘interruption’ (a start-up before the speaker's talk is complete). The prevalence and impact of these in back pain consultations is unknown.