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History-taking in the elderly: obtaining useful information
1Section of geriatric medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, New York City.
Geriatrics
|August 1, 1991
Summary
Gathering medical history from elderly patients can be challenging due to communication barriers. This article offers primary care physicians strategies to improve diagnostic information from geriatric patient histories.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Primary Care
- Clinical Communication
Background:
- The diagnostic yield of medical history in adults is typically high (approaching 90%).
- However, this utility is often significantly reduced in geriatric patients.
- Barriers such as cognitive, behavioral, and physical issues impede effective communication with the elderly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and address the challenges in obtaining medical histories from elderly patients.
- To provide primary care physicians with practical techniques to overcome communication barriers.
- To maximize the diagnostic information obtained from geriatric patient histories.
Main Methods:
- Review of common communication barriers in geriatric care.
- Identification of specific techniques for primary care physicians.
- Focus on enhancing information gathering during patient history taking.
Main Results:
- Cognitive, behavioral, and physical problems are key barriers.
- Specific communication strategies can mitigate these obstacles.
- Improved history-taking enhances diagnostic accuracy in the elderly.
Conclusions:
- Effective communication strategies are crucial for accurate geriatric assessment.
- Primary care physicians can improve diagnostic yield by adapting their approach.
- Overcoming barriers leads to better patient care for older adults.