In the past doctors tended to be authoritarian, paternalistic and domineering. Now that the consultation has become more of a dialogue, there has been a shift away from thinking solely in terms of disease and pathology and towards thinking in terms of people and their problems.
Psychological and social aspects of the consultation have been shown to have a significant influence health outcomes. More control by patients, more expression of emotion and more information flow are associated with better control of such conditions as diabetes, hypertension and peptic ulcer.
Studying a patient's beliefs enables them to be influenced, while better understanding produces better compliance. Patient-centred consulting means adding new communication skills to more traditional medical skills.
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