The argumentative role of patient companions in (shared) decision-making.

Objective: This study aims to examine the type of involvement of patient companions in the argumentative exchanges in consultations and explore when their contributions should be taken into account in shared decision-making (SDM).

Methods: A qualitative analysis was carried out using transcribed medical consultations (N = 10) between health professionals (doctors at a regional Dutch hospital), adult patients and informal patient companions. Insights from argumentation theory were used to develop an inventory of twelve theoretically distinct discussion situations involving patient companions, distinguishing possible discussion roles, disagreement types and coalition formations.

Machines, journeys, prisons and yo-yos: Metaphors of pain, illness and medicine in consultations with chronic pain patients.

Introduction: This paper examines pain, illness and medicine metaphors as used in consultations between chronic pain patients and anaesthesiologists, physiotherapists and psychologists in a Belgian pain clinic. As metaphors frame and highlight aspects of understanding and experiences of life events, including illness, they can provide insight in how health professionals and patients construct illness, pain and medicine in interaction.

Materials And Method: 16 intake consultations (collected in Belgium in April-May 2019) between 6 patients and 4 health professionals were qualitatively coded twice ATLAS.