We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Involvement of Visit Companions in Internal Medicine Resident Ambulatory Clinic Visits: Perspectives of Patients, Companions, and Internal Medicine Residents.
- Authors
Lum, Yvonne; Colburn, Jessica L.; Christmas, Colleen
- Abstract
The purpose of this study is to understand the role and perspectives of visit companions during medical visits with resident physicians. Surveys were administered in person to patients and visit companions, if present, attending a medical resident continuity clinic. Residents were asked to complete an online survey on their experiences with visit companions. The average age of patients without companions was 55 years. The most common reason these patients did not bring a visit companion was that they did not feel it would be helpful. In the past, 52% of these patients had brought a companion, reporting that they had previously done so for support and company, to ask the physician questions, and for help remembering the physician's instructions. The average age of patients with companions was 50 years, while the average age of their companions was 40 years. Nine were family members and 10 were non-relatives, of which 7 were spouses. Nearly all companions (84.2%) accompanied the patient to the exam room, and about half (47.4%) accompanied the patient to every clinic visit. Nearly all companions (84.2%) reported satisfaction with the clinic visit. The most frequently reported roles during visits were asking the physician questions and helping to remember the physician's instructions. Twenty-seven residents have responded to the online survey to date (55% response rate), and 74% reported feeling comfortable working with companions during clinic visits, 96% had not received any formal training in working with visit companions, and 70% reported interest in additional training. The most desired type of training was clinic mentorship and group sessions with caregivers. Residents reported involving companions during clinic visits by asking them for additional information and providing instructions to assist the patient after the visit. When asked to rank aspects of the clinic visit they believed were most important to companions, residents reported that receiving information about the general health of the patient was the most important, followed by education about warning signs and symptoms, and the opportunity to share concerns about the patient. These rankings were consistent with the views of the companions themselves. In this pilot investigation, half of the patients of the internal medicine clinic who brought a companion did so for every visit. These patients relied on their companions to ask questions during the visit and to help remember the physician's instructions. Residents and companions generally agreed on the roles of companions, but almost none of the residents had any formal training in interacting with visit companions.
- Subjects
INTERNAL medicine; MEDICINE; OUTPATIENT medical care; RESIDENTS (Medicine); HOSPITAL medical staff
- Publication
Hawaii Journal of Medicine & Public Health, 2013, Vol 72, Issue 9, p61
- ISSN
2165-8218
- Publication type
Article