Jennifer L. Wolff|Debra Roter
Family presence in routine medical visits: A meta-analytical review
Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins University
older adults commonly accompanied routine physician visits primarily adult children spouses first review studies investigating dynamics consequences patient accompaniment two types evidence examined 1 observational studies audio andor videotaped medical visits 2 surveys patients families health care providers ascertained experiences expectations preferences family companion presence behaviors routine medical visits metaanalytic techniques used summarize evidence describing attributes unaccompanied accompanied patients companions medical visit processes patient outcomes weighted mean rate patient accompaniment routine adult medical visits 376 13 contributing studies accompanied patients significantly older likely female less educated worse physical mental health unaccompanied patients companions average 63 years age predominantly female 794 spouses 547 adult children 322 patients accompanied patient visits significantly longer verbal contribution medical dialog comparable accompanied patients family companion compared unaccompanied patients companion present health care providers engaged biomedical information giving given diversity outcomes pooled estimates could calculated 5 contributing studies 0 unfavorable 3 inconclusive 2 favorable accompanied relative unaccompanied patients study findings suggest potential practical benefits systematic recognition integration companions health care delivery processes propose conceptual framework relate family companion presence behaviors physician visits quality interpersonal health care processes patient self management health care