Patient preferences in geriatric wards, a survey of health care professionals’ practice, experience and attitudes

Key summary points Aim Medical doctors making decisions without consulting their patients has gradually shifted towards shared decision making. Findings Nevertheless, in this study from geriatric wards in Norway, only half of health care professionals (HCP) report that patient preferences were clari...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European geriatric medicine 2024-02, Vol.15 (1), p.153-158
Main Authors: Ihle-Hansen, Hege, Pedersen, R., Westbye, S. F., Sævareid, T. J. L., Brøderud, L., Larsen, M. H., Hermansen, K., Rostoft, S., Romøren, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Brief Report
Geriatrics/Gerontology
Internal Medicine
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
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Summary:Key summary points Aim Medical doctors making decisions without consulting their patients has gradually shifted towards shared decision making. Findings Nevertheless, in this study from geriatric wards in Norway, only half of health care professionals (HCP) report that patient preferences were clarified, and the majority of HCP reported that they did not inform, involve, and treat patients based on patient preferences. Message Measures are needed to improve integration of patient’s preferences into decision-making. Purpose We aimed to identify whether health care professionals (HCP) examine their patient and next-of-kin preferences, and to study whether medical decisions follow these preferences. Method A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted with multidisciplinary HCP from 12 geriatric wards in the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority. Results Of the 289 HCPs responding (response rate 61%), mean age 37.8 years (SD 11.3), 235 (81.3%) women, 12.4 (SD 9.6) years of experience and 67 (23.2%) medical doctors, only half report clarifying patients’ preferences. The majority reported that they did not inform, involve and treat in line with such preferences. However, 53% believe that HCP, patients and next-of-kin should make clinical decisions together. Discussion Our findings indicate a lack of engagement in conversation and inclusion of patient preferences when providing health interventions in geriatric wards. Measures for change of culture are needed.
ISSN:1878-7649
1878-7657
1878-7657
DOI:10.1007/s41999-023-00922-7