Dilemmas and Strategy When Companion Participation During Appointments Differs from Patient and Companion Expectations

Maria K. Venetis, Allyson C. Bontempo, Danielle Catona, Alexandre Buckley de Meritens, Katie A. Devine, Kathryn Greene

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Cancer patients often attend medical interactions with at least one companion. The degree to which companions participate varies, ranging from passive observer to active advocate. However, the structure of the medical interaction often promotes dyadic rather than triadic communication, creating ambiguity about to the degree to which companions can and should participate. Participants (N = 34, 16 dyads) included gynecologic cancer patients who were undergoing chemotherapy treatment (n = 18) and their companions (n = 16); all participants were separately interviewed. Interviews included discussion of dyadic communication patterns within medical interactions. The normative rhetorical theory (Goldsmith, 2019) was applied as a guiding framework. Patients discussed the dilemma they experience when companions are expected but absent. Patients and companions provided positive reports of companion communication when behavior aligned with expectations. Alternatively, patients and companions experience dilemmas when companions participate more than or differently from how patients and/or companions had expected. Companions provided one strategy for managing the dilemma of how to participate in medical interactions. Implications and limitations are discussed.

Original languageAmerican English
JournalHealth Communication
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Communication

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Dilemmas and Strategy When Companion Participation During Appointments Differs from Patient and Companion Expectations'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this