Triadic Communication

Abstract

Triadic communication is fundamentally different than dyadic communication in healthcare settings, as triadic communication includes a third person in the interaction and changes the group dynamics. This third person is typically a companion or informal caregiver, though the relationship between the patient and caregiver, as well as the role of the third person, depends on factors such as age, disease context, and healthcare setting. For example, in pediatric settings the caregiver is typically a parent, whereas in geriatric settings the third person is often a spouse or adult child. In contexts where a patient is legally a minor, such as in pediatric care, or in settings where a patient is in poorer health, such as in dementia care, the third person is likely to play a greater role in the interaction. However, in cases where the patient is able to act with greater levels of autonomy, the third person may primarily act as a source of emotional support, such as in cancer care. While research has shown that the triadic interaction is distinct and consists of unique dynamics compared to dyadic interactions, there is evidence that triadic communication rarely takes place effectively. Instead, these types of healthcare interactions are often made up of two separate dyadic interactions. Finally, research has primarily approached healthcare communication from a dyadic context and there is a lack of triadic communication research.