Who accompanies patients to the chronic pain clinic?

Background: Patients may be accompanied to the pain clinic consultation and these accompanying persons are relevant in the communication process. Aims: We sought to characterize if patients were accompanied and by whom to the pain clinic. We also wished to determine the accompanying persons influence on the doctor-patient interaction. This has not been studied previously in this clinical setting. Methods: Local ethics committee approval followed by written informed consent was obtained. Patients attending the pain clinic for the first time and review patients were included ( n = 219). Results: Twenty-one percent of patients ( n = 46) were accompanied. Adult accompanied by spouse 19 (41.3 %) and adult child accompanied by parent 18 (39.1 %) were the most common dyads. The accompanying person's role was most frequently described by doctors as an advocate for the patient 30/46 (65.2 %) [for an adult accompanied by spouse (63.1 %)]. The influence of the main accompanying person on the patient doctor encounter was described as positive [adult accompanied by spouse (78.9 %)] [(adult accompanied by parent (94.4 %)]. Conclusions: Patients are accompanied to the pain clinic with a typically positive influence on doctor patient relationship and communication. Awareness of these issues is important in good communication in the pain clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]