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We present a conceptual framework of one‐to‐one, in‐person communication that occurs between a health‐care professional and a patient. The framework is intended as a tool for organizing and summarizing relevant research but it can also help guide assessing the communication process and can help guide development of interventions to improve the process.

The framework includes four key components, with a focus on elements that can be modified. The first component is the focus of the interaction: each participant's communication goals. The second component consists of the participants themselves, each with five key attributes that determine, in part, how they address their goals. The third component is the communication process: each person both conveys messages and receives messages, and the messages themselves can be verbal, non‐verbal, or silent. The communication process is iterative and …