ObjectivesPatients are initiating recordings of their clinical encounters using a smartphone. While this is an important, universal issue, little is known about the clinician viewpoint. Understanding clinician perspectives and behaviours is key to ensuring the protection of patient and clinician interests. This study aimed to gain a deep understanding of clinician attitudes and behaviours to patient-led recordings of hospital clinical encounters.DesignSemistructured interviews were conducted with 20 hospital clinicians. Participants were recruited using a combination of purposive and snowball sampling. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.SettingThis study took place at two hospitals in the metropolitan area of Gold Coast, Australia.ParticipantsParticipants included clinicians with varying levels of experience, or clinical managers in the roles of: medical, nursing and midwifery, and allied health staff.ResultsThe 20 participants interviewed were from a range of health disciplines and clinical areas and most had experienced a patient-led recording. Three themes emerged when exploring participant attitudes. First, that recording was a significant and controversial topic. Second, that experiences often informed clinician attitudes and many clinicians held conflicting views. Finally, a perceived loss of control was a significant stressor. A further three themes emerged relating to clinician behaviours when a patient asks to record. Decision-making involved balancing multiple factors often in pressurised situations. Shared decision-making was shaped by power dynamics and, finally, decision-making was not informed by hospital policy.ConclusionsWhile patient-led recordings were viewed as beneficial, clinician welfare and patient safety may be at risk when a patient records a clinical encounter. Current safeguards, such as hospital policies, are not used and may not meet the needs of clinicians when decision-making is complicated by power dynamics. More research is needed to better understand how clinicians can be supported in this critical domain.

Objective: Health consumers (patients, their family, friends and carers) are frequently using their smartphones to record hospital clinical encounters. However, there is limited research which has explored the social interaction surrounding this behaviour. Understanding the consumer perspective is key to informing policy and practice. This study explored consumer attitudes and experiences regarding patientled recordings.Methods: Semistructured interviews were undertaken with 20 hospital consumers.Participants were recruited via advertising, posters and invitation letters. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.Findings: Four main themes were identified relating to participant perspectives of patient-led recordings: (1) consumers viewed clinician consent as important, although they reported different experiences of the consent process, (2) consumers indicated that a clinician refusing the recording had the potential to undermine the consumer-clinician relationship, (3) consumers were both uninformed and misinformed regarding relevant policy and legislation and (4) consumers expressed a number of expectations regarding their rights to record and of the health service in supporting this practice. Conclusion:Consumers want to record their clinical encounters with the consent of their clinician but are unprepared to navigate consent discussions. Health services and clinicians should inform consumers who want to record about their rights and responsibilities, to support the consent process and safe recording environments.Clinician refusal to consent to a patient-led recording may not lead to increased covert recording; however, clear communication about the reasons for refusing a recording is needed to protect the consumer-clinician relationship.

Background Patients use their smartphones to covertly record their clinical encounters in hospital. However, this issue is poorly understood. Insight into the clinician perspective will help inform policies and practices that deliver safe environments for patients and clinicians. Objective This study aimed to gain a deep understanding of clinician attitudes and behaviours when a patient covertly records a hospital clinical encounter using a smartphone. Methods Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 20 hospital clinicians. Participants were recruited via purposive and snowball sampling. Interviews were conducted in person or via Microsoft Teams. Interviews were digitally audio recorded and transcribed. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results Most of the 20 participants reported they had either suspected or experienced a patient covertly recording a clinical encounter. Covert recordings occurred across a broad range of clinical disciplines and contexts. Themes were identified from participant perspectives, including discernment of patient intention, likeliness to consent to the recording if asked, anticipated risks and potential benefits associated with the covert recording. These themes have led to the categorisation of three forms of covert recording: (1) Intentional Covert Recording (2) Inadvertently – Covert Recording, and (3) Beneficial Covert Recording. Conclusion Clinicians have varied experiences and responses when a patient covertly records a clinical encounter. Findings indicate that nuanced strategies may be required to support clinicians to manage covert recording, whilst balancing the needs of patients.