A qualitative exploration of researchers’ efforts to record healthcare encounters

Recordings of healthcare encounters are a rich source of data, providing high-quality evidence to guide improvement in communication. Through a survey, we explored UK researchers’ experience of attempting to employ this method. Findings highlight challenges throughout the research process, relating to: bureaucracy and the disproportionate attribution of risk, subjectivity and heterogeneity in the application of regulations and processes, and the practicalities of recruitment and recording consultations. Findings show that to overcome these challenges, researchers can enhance communication strategies across the research process to convey the benefit of recording healthcare encounters. However, this could be burdensome and does not address systemic issues in approval systems. We consider what could be achieved through standardised resources for researchers and training for institutional actors, whilst adding to calls for simplified and streamlined approvals processes. These changes could help researchers address important questions focussed on understanding and improving communication in healthcare by recording healthcare encounters.