General practice evaluation: content of consultations, 1991

This data was collected as part of the development of an instrument for mapping the content of general practice consultations. Consultation mapping is a method of systematic observation, borrowed from the behavioural sciences. A consultation map may be described as a two-dimensional representation of activity occurring during a consultation, over a length of time. In order to create a consultation map, large segments of conversation, short sentences, single words or periods of dialogue are categorised according to the type of communication taking place. This study employs ten different categories of communication: (1) current problems, nature and history; (2) Patient ideas; (3) Patient concerns; (4) Patient expectations; (5) Ongoing problems; (6) Health promotion/illness prevention; (7) Explanation to patient; (8) Involving patient in management; (9) Action taken; (10) Social/neutral. The data consist of minute-by-minute information about which of the ten categories of communication occurred, in each of thirty consultations.