The patient-doctor consultation is at the heart of general practice. Written by an academic and practising GP and a communication skills medical educator, this book explores the nature of the consultation in the twenty-first century.

The important concepts of patient partnership and the involvement of patients in the decision-making process are discussed.

The authors take an evidence-based approach to the consultation whilst recognising the advantages and disadvantages of evidence in this respect.

The chapters include theory and practical advice about risk communication, learning with and from patients, improving and assessing consultation skills and the skills required for and the potential problems relating to electronic consultations.

* Introduction
* Consultation models: history and histories
* Shared decision making and patient partnership
* Sharing information: evidence and risks
* Consultation skills techniques
* Changes in general practice affecting the doctor-patient relationship
* Preparing for patients in the 21st century
* Assessment of communication/ consultation skills and competence
* The patient voice in doctors' learning
* Electronic communication and issues related to the consultation
* The consultation in the 21st century

About the authors:

Jill Thistlethwaite BSc MB BS PhD MMEd FRCGP FRACGP DRCOG is associate professor in general practice and rural medicine at James Cook University, Queensland, Australia, where she works with both medical students and the postgraduate general practice regional training programme. She moved to Australia in 2003. Prior to this she was senior lecturer in community-based education at Leeds University Medical School, UK and a GP in West Yorkshire.

Penny Morris BA is senior lecturer in communication skills at Leeds University Medical School and is an associate director for the 'Fresh Start' programme at the London Postgraduate GP Deanery. She co-chaired the 'Where's the patient's voice in medical education' conference in Vancouver in 2005 and has a strong commitment to involving patients in training medical students and doctors. She has previously worked at Manchester and Cambridge universities.