ABSTRACT
In 1979, three Thames Valley course organisers, Theo Schofield, Peter Havelock and myself, plus our new friend, social psychologist David Pendleton, first used the triumvirate of Ideas, Concerns and Expectations (ICE) as the basis of understanding our patients' health beliefs, and started to include this concept in our day-release teaching. This led to the book, The Consultation, an approach to learning and teaching.1 We have a new book out any minute now with a very similar message.2 Over the years, ICE has perhaps become an overused mnemonic, trotted out with little meaning by many hoping to please teachers and examiners. It is time to redress the balance.
