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The role of a companion attending consultations with the patient. A systematic review

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To review the literature pertaining to communication patterns and dynamics of doctor-patient-companion or ‘triadic’ medical encounters as identified in both quantitative and qualitative studies. To consider the role of an attending companion in specialist groups using the context of chronic pain as a group example.

Methods

Studies were identified via database searches and reference lists. The eligibility of studies and data extracted were cross-checked with inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results

Of the 1094 titles identified, 20 studies were included for review. Tables were created for patient settings and study outcomes. Results indicated that companions frequently attended consultations, usually with a relative such as their spouse or adult child and were found to influence communicative processes in the encounter. This influence could either be negative (limiting the exchange of information, particularly relating to sensitive topics) or positive (improvement of self-care management), with study outcomes varying widely. The chronic pain subgroup has not yet been researched in the context of triadic consultations.

Conclusion

Triadic communication can be advantageous in medical encounters; however, as differences exist depending on the individual medical setting, caution should be asserted in generalising findings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Ireland

    Emma Troy, Deepak Doltani & Dominic Harmon

Authors
  1. Emma Troy
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  2. Deepak Doltani
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  3. Dominic Harmon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dominic Harmon.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Troy, E., Doltani, D. & Harmon, D. The role of a companion attending consultations with the patient. A systematic review. Ir J Med Sci 188, 743–750 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-018-1920-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-018-1920-0

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