GP Laughter in Lifestyle Behaviour Consultations: A Conversation Analytical Study of General Practice

•Conversation Analysis is a robust empirical research approach for investigating laughter in lifestyle behaviour consultations.•When patients do not indicate whether the behaviours are positive or negative, GPs’ reciprocal laughter may have negative effect.•When patients make jokes about their behaviours, GPs’ reciprocal laughter may work to build the patient-doctor relationship.•When the behaviour issue is raised by the patient, GP laughter is less likely to be interpreted as laughing at the patient.•When the issue is raised by the GP, GP laughter is more at risk of being interpreted as laughing at.