By doing this, we communicate much about our interest in the patient's family but do not necessarily suggest that we need to fix anything. It is easy to forget that most patients and their family members often don't understand how to most effectively negotiate our complex medical system or how to communicate appropriately with primary care physicians. The physician should advise a patient's relatives on how best to reach him or her, on how long to expect to converse about the patient's problems, and on when they should rely on their own judgment. Being regularly available to communicate also goes a long way toward fostering better doctor-family relations. Some primary care physicians provide educational materials on how patients and family members can get the most out of their medical visit.
Few things are more demoralizing than being helpless in the face of trauma.
It is normal to attempt to cope by trying to exert control over the situation. Whether making sure their loved one eats enough or downloading reams of information from the Internet, relatives will do anything they can to contribute to the patient's recovery. In doing this, they are also working to keep their own helplessness at bay. Physicians should heed this psychological need for relatives to play a meaningful role in the patient's care. Otherwise, family members may assume the role of adversary rather than partner.