Multimorbidity and Decision-Making Preferences Among Older Adults.

Descripción:
The purpose of this article is the understanding individuals' preferences for participating in health care decisions is foundational to delivering person-centered care.They aimed to explore preferences for health care decision making among older adults, and identify multimorbidity profiles associated with preferring less active, ie, passive, participation among older US adults.

Como citar:

Chi WC, Wolff J, Greer R, Dy S. Multimorbidity and Decision-Making Preferences Among Older Adults. Ann Fam Med. 2017 Nov;15(6):546-551. Available at: http://www.annfammed.org/content/15/6/546.long

METHOD: Ours was a cross-sectional, nationally representative study of 2,017 National Health and Aging Trends Study respondents. Passive decision-making preference was defined as preferring to leave decisions to physicians. Multimorbidity profiles, based on 13 prevalent chronic conditions, were examined as (1) presence of 2 or more conditions, (2) a simple conditions count, and (3) a condition clusters count. Multiple logistic regression was used with adjustment for age, sex, education, English proficiency, and mobility limitation.

RESULTS: Most older adults preferred to participate actively in making health care decisions. Older adults with 4 or more conditions, however, and those with multiple condition clusters are relatively less likely to prefer active decision making.

CONCLUSIONS: Primary care physicians should initiate a shared decision-making process with older adults with 4 or more conditions or multiple condition clusters. Physicians should anticipate variation in decision-making preferences among older adults and adapt a decision-making process that suits individuals' preferences for participation to ensure person-centered care delivery.

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