Perceptions of the Role of Cancer Patients' Companions During Medical Appointments

Abstract

To determine the perceptions of the role of cancer patients' companions in medical encounters with oncologists, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 18 patients and 17 companions. Companions (most often a spouse) attended a medical encounter to provide support and companionship, increase patients* understanding, ask questions, and furnish transportation. Companions viewed themselves as more active than the patients perceived them to be. Patients perceived that the presence of a companion during an appointment resulted in little change in the content of the meeting. The authors concluded that the companion's presence during a medical encounter was important and satisfying to both patients and their companions.