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Vol. 1 No. 2 (2024)

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Submitted
February 8, 2026
Published
December 31, 2024

Copyright (c) 2024 Lujain Abduh Alamodi, Alrumaisaa Ahmad Daafi, Wejdan Saddiq Hindi, Kharifah Mohammad Ibrahem Sherah, Tariq Dohmi Ahmed Mubaraki, Khulud Abdullah Omaysh, Wasan Siddiq Alsalem, Shaima Yahya Otayf, Fatima Ahmed Majrabi, Ahmed Ali Shubayli, Ghaliya Yahya Ali Shannaq, Wedad Mohammad Alhazmi, Ebtisam Rashid Alsehly, Ibtihal Hassan Ali Hadi, Shemah Mohamed Ali Hakami

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Beyond the Clock: Reconciling Efficiency with Comprehensive Care in the 15-Minute Visit

https://doi.org/10.64483/202412640
Lujain Abduh Alamodi
Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Alrumaisaa Ahmad Daafi
Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Wejdan Saddiq Hindi
Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Kharifah Mohammad Ibrahem Sherah
Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Tariq Dohmi Ahmed Mubaraki
Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Khulud Abdullah Omaysh
Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Wasan Siddiq Alsalem
Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Shaima Yahya Otayf
Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Fatima Ahmed Majrabi
Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed Ali Shubayli
Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Ghaliya Yahya Ali Shannaq
Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Wedad Mohammad Alhazmi
Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Ebtisam Rashid Alsehly
Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Ibtihal Hassan Ali Hadi
Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Shemah Mohamed Ali Hakami
Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia

Corresponding Author(s) : Lujain Abduh Alamodi

Laalamodi@moh.gov.sa

Saudi Journal of Medicine and Public Health, Vol. 1 No. 2 (2024)

Abstract

Background: The 15-minute patient visit has become a predominant model in modern healthcare systems, driven by economic pressures, physician shortages, and rising patient volumes. This constrained timeframe presents a significant challenge to delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care, potentially compromising quality, satisfaction, and clinical outcomes. Aim: This narrative review aims to critically synthesize the evidence on strategies to maximize both efficiency and clinical effectiveness within the 15-minute primary care visit, analyzing the inherent tensions and proposing a framework for optimized practice. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO databases (2010-2024). Studies focusing on time management, communication techniques, team-based care, technology integration, and outcome measures in brief outpatient consultations were included and thematically analyzed. Results: Evidence supports the efficacy of specific pre-visit planning, agenda setting, shared decision-making aids, effective team delegation, and integrated digital tools in enhancing visit quality. However, the review identifies persistent risks, including physician burnout, disparities in care for complex patients, and over-reliance on transactional medicine. Conclusion: Maximizing the 15-minute visit requires a multifaceted approach that extends beyond clinician speed to encompass system-level redesign, team function, and technology leverage. A "pre-visit, in-visit, post-visit" model, supported by continuous training and appropriate performance metrics, is essential to reconcile efficiency with comprehensive, effective care.

Keywords

Time Management; Primary Health Care; Physician-Patient Relations; Clinical Efficiency; Team-Based Care.
Alamodi, L. A., Daafi, A. A., Hindi, W. S., Sherah, K. M. I., Mubaraki, T. D. A., Omaysh, K. A., … Hakami, S. M. A. (2024). Beyond the Clock: Reconciling Efficiency with Comprehensive Care in the 15-Minute Visit. Saudi Journal of Medicine and Public Health, 1(2), 2313–2319. https://doi.org/10.64483/202412640
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