Patients' Views of Family Involvement in Medical Care Decisions and Encounters

This study was designed to examine the role of the third person in the doctor-older patient-companion triad at three points in the medical care decision process of older patients: before the medical encounter, during the medical visit, and subsequent to the medical encounter. Older patients accompanied on the medical visit were compared with older patients who came alone regarding the roles and activities of family and others leading to the older patients' medical visit as well as immediate outcomes upon completion of the medical visit and short-term outcomes 2 months after the initial medical visit. Older patients accompanied to the medical visit also assessed roles and assistance provided by the third-person companion during the medical encounter. Older patients accompanied on the medical visit were usually accompanied by the same person across medical visits. The third person was likely to be a spouse and was viewed as an asset during and after the medical encounter. Older accompanied persons were more likely to have assistance both before and after the medical visit, although there were few differences between groups in terms of immediate and short-term outcomes. Findings suggest that the presence of the third person in the doctor-older patient medical encounter should be viewed as an opportunity for patient education and support for the companion who provides an ongoing role in care of the older patient.