Doctors talking to patients: A study of the verbal behaviour of general practitioners consulting in their surgeries

Studying the verbal behavior and patterns of general practitioners consultation skills in Britain are the focus of this report. Chapters 1 and 2 provide the rationale for the study and give an overview of doctors behavior in consultation with patients. The structure of the consultation with in-depth analyses of behavioral phases verbal behaviors and relating skills are then examined. Specific behaviors such as forms of questioning telling encouraging using silence and dysfunctional openings are reviewed. Chapter 6 examines the interactive skills of summarizing reassuring directing probing seeking out and using patient ideas and termination issues. These skills are presented with positive examples of consultation interactions. The problems encountered when consultation interactions are dysfunctional are also examined. Doctors negativity as a factor in dysfunctional interaction is discussed. Chapters 9 10 and 11 attempt to group items of behavior and identify behaviors which lead to decision making by the doctor. Several styles of decision making behavior and the way those styles relate to patient interaction are included in these chapters. Consultation behaviors are broken down into phases and further analysis of these behaviors is provided which also affords a method of identifying basic styles of interaction. The final chapter offers methods of measuring consulting styles. Checklists with score values for each area of consultation interaction--style diagnostic and prescriptive--are reproduced in this section. The concluding section explains the advantages of using the style behavior and interactive skills outlined in this book to achieve greater effectiveness for patients and greater job satisfaction for the physician.