„To leave the white uniform behind” – a child as a subject of the physician-patient relationship: theoretical aspects (part I)

The physician-patient relationship is very specific because of its subject. In literature, it is termed the triangle agreement because it involves three individuals as subjects of the relationship: physician, child and (depending on the child’s age) parents. They pass information to each other, observe and are observed. Parents’ involvement in the physician-child relationship is multifaceted and depends on a variety of factors, the most important ones include: the child’s age and/or level of intellectual development, experiences, personality, etc. It can be expected that the physician-child relationship proceeds differently depending on the environment in which it occurs (e.g., a visit at the pediatrician’s office, dentist’s office, at the department of pediatrics, a hospital admission room or an emergency department). The manner in which the physician initiates and sustains the relationship with the patient (not only a child) affects the patient’s feelings and behavior. Moreover, it conditions the patient’s satisfaction and compliance. This paper focuses on the relationship that emerges between the physician – the child – parents at the department of pediatrics in a hospital.

The physician-patient relationship is very specific because of its subject. In literature, it is termed the triangle agreement because it involves three individuals as subjects of the relationship: physician, child and (depending on the child’s age) parents. They pass information to each other, observe and are observed. Parents’ involvement in the physician-child relationship is multifaceted and depends on a variety of factors, the most important ones include: the child’s age and/or level of intellectual development, experiences, personality, etc. It can be expected that the physician-child relationship proceeds differently depending on the environment in which it occurs (e.g., a visit at the pediatrician’s office, dentist’s office, at the department of pediatrics, a hospital admission room or an emergency department). The manner in which the physician initiates and sustains the relationship with the patient (not only a child) affects the patient’s feelings and behavior. Moreover, it conditions the patient’s satisfaction and compliance. This paper focuses on the relationship that emerges between the physician – the child – parents at the department of pediatrics in a hospital.