Emphasizing holistic philosophy, this important book encourages practitioners to surpass treatment based strictly on a one-dimensional, biomedical assessment of their patients. Among the topics covered are: conceptualizations of ill-health; consideration of the patient as an individual; the establishment of goals and cooperative strategy between physician and patient; and the realistic allocation of time, energy, and other resources of the health care provider.

Introduction - Moira Stewart and W Wayne WestonWhy We Need a New Clinical Method - Ian R McWhinneyPART ONE: THE CONCEPTSOverview of the Patient-Centered Clinical Method - W Wayne Weston and Judith Belle BrownThe First Component - Judith Belle Brown, W Wayne Weston and Moira Stewart Exploring both the Disease and the Illness ExperienceBeing Understood: Case Illustrating Component 1 - Judith Belle Brown, W Wayne Weston and Moira StewartThe Second Component - Judith Belle Brown and W Wayne Weston Understanding the Whole PersonLost Dreams: Case Illustrating Component 2 - Judith Belle Brown The Third Component - Judith Belle Brown, W Wayne Weston and Moira Stewart Finding Common GroundBreaking the Habit is Hard to Do: Case Illustrating Component 3 - Martin J Bass and Judith Belle Brown The Fourth Component - Carol L McWilliam and Thomas R Freeman Incorporating Prevention and Health Promotion"An Ounce of Prevention...A Pound of Cure": First Case Illustrating Component 4 - Thomas R Freeman, Moira Stewart and Judith Belle BrownChoices and Chances - Whose Responsibility?: Second Case Illustrating Component 4 - Carol L McWilliam and Judith Belle BrownThe Fifth Component - Moira Stewart, Judith Belle Brown and Ian R McWhinney Enhancing the RelationshipControl and Reassurance: Case Illustrating Component 5 - Moira Stewart, Judith Belle Brown and W Wayne WestonThe Sixth Component - Judith Belle Brown, Carol L McWilliam and W Wayne Weston Being Realistic"Show Me the Way to Go Home": Case Illustrating Component 6 - Carol L McWilliam, Judith Belle Brown and John YaphePART TWO: LEARNING AND TEACHINGTeaching the Patient-Centered Method - W Wayne Weston and Judith Belle Brown The Human Dimensions of Medical EducationDealing with Common Difficulties in Learning and Teaching the Patient-Centered Method - W Wayne Weston and Judith Belle BrownTeaching the Patient-Centered Method - W Wayne Weston and Judith Belle Brown Instructional MethodsTeaching the Patient-Centered Method - W Wayne Weston and Judith Belle Brown Practical TipsThe Case Report as a Teaching Tool for Patient-Centered Communication - Thomas R FreemanPART THREE: RESEARCH ON PATIENT-CENTERED COMMUNICATIONStudies of Health Outcomes and Patient-Centered Communication - Moira StewartMethods of Scoring Patient-Centeredness - Moira StewartQualitative Approaches that Illuminate Patient-Centered Care - Carol L McWilliamPatient-Doctor Relationships over Time - Moira StewartConclusion: Opportunities for the Future - Moira Stewart