title: [A qualitative content analysis of HIV consultation: when conversation is about aother than disease].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent decades the literature has paid growing attention to the communicative and relational aspects of the medical consultation, showing a consistent presence - besides contents related to the disease and the patient's agenda - of friendly conversations or "chitchat", i.e. interventions related to social, relational and personal aspects made by the physician or by the patient. The aim of the study is to analyze the content, frequency and who between the doctor and the patient introduce the "chitchat" during the check-up visits with HIV+ patients and assess the patient satisfaction at the end of the visit.
  
  
  METHODS
  52 visits at the clinic of Infectious Diseases in a hospital in Northern Italy were videotaped and transcribed. All patients filled out a satisfaction questionnaire at the end of the visit. The friendly conversations were extrapolated, and analyzed qualitatively with a content thematic analysis, and quantitatively using descriptive statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following thematic areas were identified: patient's medical issue not related to HIV; medical condition of a family member or others; labour issues of the patient; patient's relational/emotional issues; relational/working issues work of others; social conversations; physician's self-disclosure. "Chitchat" accounted for 26.5% of the time of the visit and in 63% of cases was introduced by doctors. The 91.4% of the patients was highly satisfied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of friendly conversations during the doctor-patient exchanges in the field of HIV infection seems to have a role of consolidation of the therapeutic relationship and seems to reflect an authentic interest of the physician towards the patient as a person.
authors.affiliation: Psicologia Clinica, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università di Milano.
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borghi
authors.affiliation: USD di Psicologia Clinica, Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, Ospedale San Paolo.
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tesoro
authors.affiliation: Psicologia Clinica, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università di Milano - USD di Psicologia Clinica, Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, Ospedale San Paolo.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vegni
authors.affiliation: Clinica di Malattie Infettive, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Ospedale San Paolo, Università di Milano.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bini
authors.affiliation: Psicologia Clinica, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università di Milano.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult