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Pendleton (the doctor's tasks)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Pendleton defined seven tasks forming the aims of each consultation. These identify what the doctor needs to achieve and deal with the use of time and resources:

1. To define the reason for the patient’s attendance, including:

a) the nature and history of the problems

b) their aetiology

c) the patient’s ideas concerns and expectations

d) the effects of the problems

2. To consider other problems:

a) continuing problems

b) at-risk factors

3. With the patient, to choose an appropriate action for each problem.

4. To achieve a shared understanding of the problems with the patient.

5. To involve the patien patient in the management and encourage him/her to accept appropriate responsibility.

6. To use time and resources appropriately

1) in the consultation

2) in the long term

7. To establish or maintain a relationship with the patient which helps to achieve the other tasks.

These tasks might be paraphrased as: understand the problem, understand the patient, share the understanding, share decisions and responsibilities and maintain the relationship.

Reference:

  1. D Pendleton et al, The Consultation: an Approach to Learning and Teaching, 1984

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