Do physicians communicate the adverse effects of medications that older patients want to hear?

Background And Objectives: Physicians routinely discuss adverse effects of medications, but whether discussions match older patients' desire for information is unexplored. This study compares patient preferences for adverse effect discussions with reported physician practice.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of 100 practicing primary care physicians from 9 medical groups and 178 patients recruited from 11 senior centers in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.