Psycho-oncology
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Companions play an important role in cancer care. This investigation compared the communication of unaccompanied patients, accompanied patients, and companions during lung cancer consultations. Factors affecting the active participation of companions were analyzed. ⋯ Companions vary greatly in their participation in lung cancer visits. Physicians facilitate companion participation through the use of partnership-building and supportive communication. The companions of black patients were less active than their white counterparts which parallels other research indicating that black patients are often less active than white patients. Such communicative discrepancies could contribute to racial disparities in cancer care.