Older adults' beliefs about physician-estimated life expectancy: a cross-sectional survey
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Estimates of life expectancy assist physicians and patients in medical decision-making. The time-delayed benefits for many medical treatments make an older adult's life expectancy estimate particularly important for physicians....
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2006-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Family Practice |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/7/9 |
| _version_ | 1811327350092070912 |
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| author | Bynum Debra L Amick Halle R Lewis Carmen L Kistler Christine E Walter Louise C Watson Lea C |
| author_facet | Bynum Debra L Amick Halle R Lewis Carmen L Kistler Christine E Walter Louise C Watson Lea C |
| author_sort | Bynum Debra L |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Estimates of life expectancy assist physicians and patients in medical decision-making. The time-delayed benefits for many medical treatments make an older adult's life expectancy estimate particularly important for physicians. The purpose of this study is to assess older adults' beliefs about physician-estimated life expectancy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We performed a mixed qualitative-quantitative cross-sectional study in which 116 healthy adults aged 70+ were recruited from two local retirement communities. We interviewed them regarding their beliefs about physician-estimated life expectancy in the context of a larger study on cancer screening beliefs. Semi-structured interviews of 80 minutes average duration were performed in private locations convenient to participants. Demographic characteristics as well as cancer screening beliefs and beliefs about life expectancy were measured. Two independent researchers reviewed the open-ended responses and recorded the most common themes. The research team resolved disagreements by consensus.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>This article reports the life-expectancy results portion of the larger study. The study group (n = 116) was comprised of healthy, well-educated older adults, with almost a third over 85 years old, and none meeting criteria for dementia. Sixty-four percent (n = 73) felt that their physicians could not correctly estimate their life expectancy. Sixty-six percent (n = 75) wanted their physicians to talk with them about their life expectancy. The themes that emerged from our study indicate that discussions of life expectancy could help older adults plan for the future, maintain open communication with their physicians, and provide them knowledge about their medical conditions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The majority of the healthy older adults in this study were open to discussions about life expectancy in the context of discussing cancer screening tests, despite awareness that their physicians' estimates could be inaccurate. Since about a third of participants perceived these discussions as not useful or even harmful, physicians should first ascertain patients' preferences before discussing their life expectancies.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:05:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-03dba8f8007544b18334d7fdcc2d502a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2296 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:05:06Z |
| publishDate | 2006-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-03dba8f8007544b18334d7fdcc2d502a2022-12-22T02:42:10ZengBMCBMC Family Practice1471-22962006-02-0171910.1186/1471-2296-7-9Older adults' beliefs about physician-estimated life expectancy: a cross-sectional surveyBynum Debra LAmick Halle RLewis Carmen LKistler Christine EWalter Louise CWatson Lea C<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Estimates of life expectancy assist physicians and patients in medical decision-making. The time-delayed benefits for many medical treatments make an older adult's life expectancy estimate particularly important for physicians. The purpose of this study is to assess older adults' beliefs about physician-estimated life expectancy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We performed a mixed qualitative-quantitative cross-sectional study in which 116 healthy adults aged 70+ were recruited from two local retirement communities. We interviewed them regarding their beliefs about physician-estimated life expectancy in the context of a larger study on cancer screening beliefs. Semi-structured interviews of 80 minutes average duration were performed in private locations convenient to participants. Demographic characteristics as well as cancer screening beliefs and beliefs about life expectancy were measured. Two independent researchers reviewed the open-ended responses and recorded the most common themes. The research team resolved disagreements by consensus.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>This article reports the life-expectancy results portion of the larger study. The study group (n = 116) was comprised of healthy, well-educated older adults, with almost a third over 85 years old, and none meeting criteria for dementia. Sixty-four percent (n = 73) felt that their physicians could not correctly estimate their life expectancy. Sixty-six percent (n = 75) wanted their physicians to talk with them about their life expectancy. The themes that emerged from our study indicate that discussions of life expectancy could help older adults plan for the future, maintain open communication with their physicians, and provide them knowledge about their medical conditions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The majority of the healthy older adults in this study were open to discussions about life expectancy in the context of discussing cancer screening tests, despite awareness that their physicians' estimates could be inaccurate. Since about a third of participants perceived these discussions as not useful or even harmful, physicians should first ascertain patients' preferences before discussing their life expectancies.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/7/9 |
| spellingShingle | Bynum Debra L Amick Halle R Lewis Carmen L Kistler Christine E Walter Louise C Watson Lea C Older adults' beliefs about physician-estimated life expectancy: a cross-sectional survey BMC Family Practice |
| title | Older adults' beliefs about physician-estimated life expectancy: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_full | Older adults' beliefs about physician-estimated life expectancy: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_fullStr | Older adults' beliefs about physician-estimated life expectancy: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Older adults' beliefs about physician-estimated life expectancy: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_short | Older adults' beliefs about physician-estimated life expectancy: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_sort | older adults beliefs about physician estimated life expectancy a cross sectional survey |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/7/9 |
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