Assessing the functional status of older patients with chronic illness

The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of using a validated functional assessment instrument, the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), with older, chronically ill patients seeking care at the family physician's office. The SIP was completed by the patient and the family physician on patients 55 years of age or older who were seen at a family practice residency clinic. The study used stratified, random assignment in an experimental design to compare physician and patient reaction to the SIP. Both physicians (residents and faculty) and patients felt the SIP was useful in detecting disabilities. Approximately half of the physicians felt the SIP was helpful in patient management. Patients reported twice as many disabilities as were reported by physicians. Half of the clinic physicians had the opportunity to review a patient's SIP immediately prior to a visit. They recognized more disabilities and agreed more often with the patients about the presence of a disability. The physicians felt the SIP was too lengthy to assimilate easily into the clinic setting. Use of a functional assessment instrument is advocated because of its ability to increase both physician awareness and physician-patient communication regarding the presence of a functional deficit.