General practice

This chapter in the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties explores the specialty of general practice. It explores common reasons for seeing a general practitioner (GP), general practice in the UK, differences between GPs and specialists, pressures of primary care, primary care models, primary care teams, and the concept of universal primary care. It discusses consultation models, patient-centredness, decision-making, continuity of care, and risk management. It reviews compliance and concordance in prescribing, as well as protocols, targets, and guidelines, telephone consulting, and home visits. It describes commonly encountered chronic disease and frailty as well as minor illness, medically unexplained symptoms, time off work, and fitness to work, drive, and fly. It investigates UK benefits for disability and illness and confirmation and certification of death. It examines social class and inequalities in health as well as social, psychological, and physical elements, prevention of disease, screening, and health education. It explains cardiovascular disease risk assessment, how to manage smoking cessation, alcohol and drug misuse, obesity, sleep problems, exercise, healthy eating, alternative/holistic medicine, and the GP’s role in dealing with intimate partner violence. It discusses GPs as managers and commissioners, as well as new ways of extending primary care, and expert patients.