A novel method for evaluating physician communication: A pilot study testing the feasibility of parent-assisted audio recordings via Zoom()

OBJECTIVE: Quality of physician consultations are best assessed via direct observation, but require intensive in-clinic research staffing. To evaluate physician consultation quality remotely, we pilot tested the feasibility of parents using their personal mobile phones to facilitate audio recordings of pediatric visits. METHODS: Across four academic pediatric primary care clinics, we invited all physicians with a patient panel (n = 20). For participating physicians, we identified scheduled patients from medical records. We invited parents to participate via text message and phone calls. During their adolescent's appointment, parents used their mobile phone to connect to Zoom for remote research staff to audio record. RESULTS: In Spring 2021, five of 20 (25%) physicians participated. During a nine-week period, we invited parents of all 54 patients seen by participating physicians of which 15 (28%) completed adult consent and adolescent assent and 10 (19%) participated. For 9 recordings, at least 45% of the conversation was audible. CONCLUSIONS: It was feasible and acceptable to directly observe physician consultations virtually with Zoom, although participation rates and potentially audio quality were lower. INNOVATION: Patients used their cellular phone calling features to connect to Zoom where research staff audio-recorded their physician consultation to evaluate communication quality.