Doctor-parent-child communication. A (re)view of the literature

Studies on doctor-patient communication focus predominantly on dyadic inter actions between adults; even when the patient is a child, the research focu s is usually on doctor-parent interaction. The aim of this review study is to evaluate the state of the art of research into doctor-parent-child commu nication. and to explore the specific role of the child. Researchers have f ocused on diverse aspects of the communication in this triad, and, as a res ult, knowledge gained from studies in this area is poorly integrated. Most of the studies have ignored the implications of a child's presence in medic al encounters. Although all studies claim to examine the interaction in the doctor-parent-child triad, most research methodologies used are based oil dyads. Our claim, however, is that, because the interactional dynamics of a triad differ fundamentally From those of a dyad, triadic analyses are a pr erequisite for a full account of the communication between doctor, parent a nd child. Suggestions are formulated For an adequate research frame regardi ng triads. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.