Consultation Models in Primary Care ; Overview

General Practitioner (GP) consultation models in the UK are foundational frameworks that guide primary care consultations, ensuring that patient encounters are structured, effective, and patient-centred. These models have evolved over time to address the dynamic nature of patient needs, healthcare delivery, and the broader societal understanding of health and illness. They serve not only to enhance the communication skills of GPs but also to foster therapeutic relationships, improve diagnostic accuracy, and facilitate shared decision-making between GPs and their patients.

The development and application of these models are driven by a recognition of the complexity of general practice, which demands not only clinical expertise but also sophisticated communication and interpersonal skills. From the foundational Byrne and Long Model, focusing on the dynamics of the consultation process, to the Calgary-Cambridge Guide, which integrates a structured approach to medical interviews with an emphasis on communication skills, each model contributes unique perspectives and techniques to improve patient care.

Further innovations, such as the Elicit-Provide-Elicit technique and the SPIKES protocol, enrich these traditional models by offering specific strategies for information exchange and delivering sensitive news. The inclusion of active listening and patient engagement techniques, like the Ask Me Three program, underscore the importance of understanding...