Much variety and little evidence: a description of guidelines for doctor-patient communication.

Aim: To explore the quality of the content of communication skills training programmes, we analysed and assessed guidelines for doctor-patient communication used in communication programmes for general practitioner (GP) trainees.

Method: Guidelines for doctor-patient communication were extracted from educational materials supplied by the 8 Dutch university centres for vocational training in general practice. Four themes guided the analysis of the guidelines: content, type of contact, format and structure and status.