Examining doctor-patient communication in triadic versus dyadic medical interactions in geriatric clinics in Singapore

Completed

Objective

Due to Singapore’s rapid ageing population, there will be greater demands placed on the country’s healthcare system. One of the critical facets of healthcare is doctor-patient communication. Effective doctor-patient communication is linked to higher patient involvement, adherence to recommended treatment, patient satisfaction, quality of care and better health outcomes. In contrast, many complaint cases in hospitals are related to insufficient communication, underscoring the need for good doctor-patient communication strategies.

Given the elderly’s reduced cognitive, mental and physical abilities, they are often accompanied by family members or others to doctor clinics. However, companion involvement can increase the complexities of the already challenging doctor-patient communication. While companions can provide emotional, informational and practical support, they may also take passive or even antagonist roles, which can negatively influence the doctor-patient communication.

In the United States, around 36-39% of elderly patients visit a doctor with a companion. It is not known what the rate is in Singapore, what roles companions undertake during medical consultations, and how companion involvement influence the doctor-patient communication here. The proposed study aims to fill this research gap by examining the prevalence and typologies of the dyadic (doctor-patient) and triadic (doctor-patient-companion) communication during medical encounters in geriatric clinics in Singapore. The roles of the companion and their effects will also be assessed, from the multi-perspectives of doctors, patients and companions.

Collaborators

NTU