title: [The doctor-patient and the doctor-patient-companion encounter in the General Medicine: a descriptive study].
abstract: The aim of the study is to describe the doctor-patient-companion interaction in the Italian General Practice compared to dyadic encounters. 819 videorecorded visits were included. 650 (79.4%) were dyadic visits. 153 (18.7%) were doctor-patient-companion encounters in which the third party was a legitimate companion (n = 24; 15.7%), or an "illegitimate" one (n = 77; 50.3%) or a patient him/herself (n = 52; 34%). In 16 visits (1.9%) more than two people interact with the doctor. The study constitutes a stimulus in order to favour an Italian contribution about a new international perspective on the doctor-patient relation that is clinically relevant.
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitario di Ricerca sugli Aspetti comunicativo-relazionali in medicina, Facoltà di Medicina, Chirurgia e Odontoiatria, Università, Milano. psicocat@unimi.it
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iapichino
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vegni
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavacciuti
authors.forename: Egidio Aldo
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Moja
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits; D010290:Parents; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012737:Sex Factors; D018454:Spouses; D013997:Time Factors; D014741:Video Recording