In today's busy world of primary care, constant demands for our attention come from many different directions. Not only must we formulate a differential diagnosis during our consultations, but we must also establish rapport, explore ideas, concerns and expectations and negotiate a management plan, bearing in mind limited resources, the omnipresent Quality and Outcomes Framework, information technology skills and the need for health promotion. We typically have just 10 minutes in which to achieve all that, as well as to manage our own emotions, agendas and uncertainty. At first glance, consultation models, some of which were derived decades ago, may seem irrelevant to modern general practice. This article will discuss some of the more common consultation models in use today and their relative advantages and disadvantages. It will also demonstrate to you why consultation models are relevant and how they can help trainees, GPs and patients.
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