Communication Theory Models—Outside the Face-To-Face Consultation

Abstract

The fundamental interaction at the core of general practice is the consultation between patient and doctor. To achieve the optimal outcomes from such encounters for both parties, the general practitioner (GP) must be a good communicator. Moreover, the skilled GP needs to be able to facilitate patients to share their stories and to share in decision making with regards to management. The majority of communication skills training programmes focus on face-to-face patient—doctor communication but there are also skills for other interactions to be learnt, practised and developed. The process of communication is also varied—verbal and written, telephone and electronic, to one person and to groups, to lay people and to professional colleagues, to fluent English speakers and to speakers with English as a second language. This article reviews the process of communication outside the consultation room.