Triadic Communication-Naming the Third Person.

Abstract Triadic communication, the presence of a third person in a clinical communication encounter, is a key feature of adolescent and young adult cancer care. The terminology for the third person is highly variable, both within clinical practice and in the literature. We argue that words such as ‘caregiver’, ‘companion’ and ‘carer’ are inconsistent with developmentally appropriate healthcare goals of AYAC care and propose instead adopting the word ‘supporter’ to describe the third person.