The Three Function Model (TFM) of the Medical Interview
First created circa 1975 by Julian Bird, MRCP, MRCPsych, for teaching communication skills to healthcare trainees in London, England, the three function model has been adapted and developed by Steven Cole and others between 1980-2020 in three editions of the textbook, The Medical Interview: The Three Function Approach.
Editions 1991-2013
Bird J, Cohen-Cole S (aka Cole), The Three-Function Model of the Medical Interview: An Educational Device, Adv Psychosom Med. 1990
Fourth Edition (In Press, June 2026)
The fourth edition, co-edited with Richard Frankel and Kelley Skeff, is in press, has been renamed The Clinical Interview for Relationship-Centered Care: The Three Function Approach to highlight the broad relevance of the revised model across healthcare disciplines and levels of experience. The graphic here is an artistic proposal for the cover.
The slides and tables below demonstrate the core concepts and skills presented in the Fourth Edition. BAP and BAP-MI are core components of Function Three.
Core Concepts & Skills
The slides and tables below demonstrate the core concepts and skills presented in the Fourth Edition. BAP and BAP-MI are core components of Function Three.
