Physician Estimates Compared With Actual Time Spent on Various Activities (N = 25 Family Physicians)
| Activity | Actual Time Minutes* | Physician- Estimated Time Minutes* | t | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Mean values. | ||||
| Direct patient care | 300 | 330 | 2.12 | .045 |
| Charts and dictating | 56.4 | 84.6 | 2.92 | .008 |
| Reading and writing | 19.9 | 24.6 | 0.72 | .48 |
| Telephone calls | 18.4 | 26.0 | 1.97 | .06 |
| Conversations | 33.5 | 37.2 | 0.69 | .497 |
| Teaching | 4.8 | 9.5 | 1.14 | .27 |
| Committees and meetings | 10.7 | 3.5 | −2.47 | .02 |
| Other | 47.0 | 20.6 | −4.21 | <.001 |