title: A is for aphorism - the power of silence.
abstract: 'All you have to do is listen' is the title of Rob Kapilow's delightful book on classical music; but he could equally have been talking about general practice consultations. Listening requires several skills including attention, echoing and body language, but begins with silence. Well timed silences, used judiciously, can allow the patient adequate space to express symptoms and concerns, while allowing the general practitioner more time for attention, comprehension and synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Academic General Practice, Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland. skreijka@bond.edu.au
authors.forename: Sanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kreijkamp-Kaspers
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Glasziou
mesh_terms: D001045:Aphorisms and Proverbs as Topic; D003142:Communication; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations