Consultation-based screening of the elderly in general practice: a pilot study

The lack of evidence to support formal annual screening of all older people does not weaken arguments for a preventive and anticipatory component to primary care. A number of short screening schedules for use by nurses or volunteers or for self-completion by patients have been developed. Patients 'failing' the screening stage are then fully assessed. This paper describes the design and pilot study of a brief anticipatory care system which can be integrated into routine general practice as the first stage of the twostage process. It was found that only about 28 of the 102 patients screened required follow up and in general the doctors found the system easy to administer during normal surgery sessions.