The universal GP Training website for everyone, not just Bradford.   Created in 2002 by Dr Ramesh Mehay

Consultation Skills

Data Gathering

What is data gathering

Data is information.  So, data gathering is the gathering of information.    Now, a lot of trainees think that data gathering in the GP consultation is all about taking a good history.   But that is only part of the equation.   Doing the right clinical examination and tests is also data gathering.    Exploring the patient’s ideas about what might be going on, their concerns and worries and what they are hoping for from the consultation is also data gathering.  And finally, explore the effect of the patient’s problem on their life at home, life at work, social life and their psychological well being is another aspect of data gathering.

So, in summary, DATA GATHERING =

  1. The History
  2. The Examination
  3. Lab & Other Diagnostic Test Results
  4. The patient’s Ideas, Concerns & Expectations (ICE)
  5. The effect of the problem on the patient’s Psycho Social Occupational well-being (PSO).
Gathering all of this information in GP is important because all of these things will affect the management plan.  And if you want to truly tailor a management plan to the individual patient (i.e. provide person-centred & holistic care), then your management plan needs to have taken all 5 of these things into account. 

 

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How IT ALL STARTED
WHAT WE'RE ABOUT
WHO ARE WE FOR?

Bradford VTS was created by Dr. Ramesh Mehay, a Programme Director for Bradford GP Training Scheme back in 2001. Over the years, it has seen many permutations.  At the time, there were very few resources for GP trainees and their trainers so Bradford decided to create one FOR EVERYONE. 

So, we see Bradford VTS as  the INDEPENDENT vocational training scheme website providing a wealth of free medical resources for GP trainees, their trainers and TPDs everywhere and anywhere.  We also welcome other health professionals – as we know the site is used by both those qualified and in training – such as Associate Physicians, ANPs, Medical & Nursing Students. 

Our fundamental belief is to openly and freely share knowledge to help learn and develop with each other.  Feel free to use the information – as long as it is not for a commercial purpose.   

We have a wealth of downloadable resources and we also welcome copyright-free educational material from all our users to help build our rich resource (send to bradfordvts@gmail.com).

Our sections on (medical) COMMUNICATION SKILLS and (medical) TEACHING & LEARNING are perhaps the best and most comprehensive on the world wide web (see white-on-black menu header section on the homepage).