How do older patients and their GPs evaluate shared decision-making in healthcare?

BMC Geriatr

University of Ljubljana, Medical Faculty, Department of Family Medicine, Poljanski nasip 58, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Published: May 2008

Background: Older persons represent a growing share of the population, yet very little is known about their specific healthcare needs, problems, and expectations. IMPROVE is an international research project that seeks to improve elderly persons' involvement in their healthcare. This paper analyzes perceptions of patient involvement by elderly patients and their GPs in family medicine in Slovenia.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews with patients over 70 and their GPs were audio-taped and transcribed. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Results: Specific characteristics of old age must be taken into account in the involvement of older patients. It is important to know the patient's expectations and to communicate clearly with the patient. A trusting relationship between the GP and the patient is a prerequisite for involvement. GPs center involvement on the GP's side. Involvement of the elderly is linked to ethical dilemmas.

Conclusion: Understanding the involvement of the elderly focuses more on building a relationship than on making decisions. It is reasonable to educate GPs and GPs' coworkers about caring relationships. Ethical aspects have often been treated in a theoretical manner, whereas empirical practice may be entirely different from theoretical premises. GPs and older patients must learn more about how to address their ethical dilemmas.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2386122PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2318-8-9DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

older patients
12
patients gps
12
involvement elderly
12
involvement
7
gps
6
older
4
gps evaluate
4
evaluate shared
4
shared decision-making
4
decision-making healthcare?
4

Similar Publications

A nationwide survey of dysphagia as a complication of deep neck infection with abscess in Japan.

Auris Nasus Larynx

January 2025

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu city, Gifu 501-1194, Japan. Electronic address:

Objective: Deep neck infection with abscess (DNI) may cause dysphagia as a late complication. This study aimed to determine the rate of DNI related dysphagia (DNIRD) and the effectiveness of rehabilitation and surgery for DNIRD.

Methods: As a multicenter retrospective study, we conducted a nationwide survey by sending questionnaires to specialist training institutions certified by the Japan Broncho-esophagological Society (JBES).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Objectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health concern that uniquely impacts older Black Americans, a population also likely to have family members also diagnosed with CKD. This study aimed to (1) describe how participants viewed their decision preferences considering the experiences of family, and friends previously diagnosed with CKD, and (2) to understand how these social complexities informed their own decisions for future CKD care.

Research Design And Methods: Utilizing a phenomenologically-informed approach, this study explored participants' perceptions of how patients and their family members' experiences with CKD influenced treatment-related decision-making.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: We aimed to investigate the association of sociodemographic, clinical and functional characteristics with the volume of transitions and specific trajectories across living and care settings.

Methods: Using data from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen study, we identified transitions across home (with or without social care), nursing homes, hospitals and postacute care facilities among 3021 adults aged 60+. Poisson and multistate models were used to investigate the association between sociodemographic, clinical and functional characteristics and both the overall volume and hazard ratios (HRs) of specific transitions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Standard therapy for breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery is radiation therapy (RT) plus hormone therapy (HT). For patients with a low-risk of recurrence, there is an interest in deescalating therapy.

Methods And Materials: A retrospective study was carried out for patients treated at the Swedish Cancer Institute from 2000 to 2015, aged 70 years or older, with pT1N0 or pT1NX estrogen receptor-positive and ERBB2-negative unifocal breast cancer without positive surgical margins, high nuclear grade, or lymphovascular invasion.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: The present study aimed to explore the epidemiologic threats and factors associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated mucormycosis (CAM) epidemic that emerged in Egypt during the second COVID-19 wave. The study also aimed to explore the diagnostic features and the role of surgical interventions of CAM on the outcome of the disease in a central referral hospital.

Methodology: The study included 64 CAM patients from a referral hospital for CAM and a similar number of matched controls from COVID-19 patients who did not develop CAM.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!