GP Consultation

The consultation with the patient is an often neglected part of the GP's training, but is fundamentally important for everyday practice. In The GP Consultation: A Registrar's Guide (formerly 'Partners in Care'), Peter Livesey, a practising GP, shows in a clear, comprehensible way how the interview can be made more effective, leading to a more efficient practice, greater accuracy of diagnosis, and a satisfied patient. Starting with establishing the relationship with the patient, different styles of consulting and common faults are described, and advice is given on how to provide a clear explanation of the diagnosis. An account is given of the sort of problem personalities likely to be encountered, and the role of listening in the resolution of illness is examined. Finally, the interview is terminated, following an effective consultation where the doctor and patient have worked together. This book is directed particularly at GPs in training and in practice, and at medical students. Similar skills are required of nurses, health visitors, social workers, and anyone in the practice team whose work involves talking to people with problems. A critical bibliography is provided for those wishing to study the literature in more detail.