Family physician assessment of the socio-emotional needs of elderly patients.
The main objective of this study was to determine the characteristics of family physicians that might influence their judgments of socio-emotionally demanding elderly patients. Thirty-four physicians in five suburban New Jersey practice settings assessed elderly patients who visited their offices during a two-year period. Background data were collected on the physicians, and 193 elderly patients were interviewed. Regression analyses were performed on the data. The final regression analysis yielded the following results: 1) socio-emotional demands were partially explained by the patients being female, perceiving themselves as sickly, and having little social support in their lives; 2) the most significant factor was the physicians' propensity to view less medically needy patients as socio-emotionally demanding; and 3) the doctors' youth and predetermined notions that elderly patients are demanding also partially explained the variance in socio-emotional physician use. These findings have several implications for family practice residency education.
Azzarto
J
J
Family Practice Residency Program, Overlook Hospital, Summit, N.J.
Peinado
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009515:New Jersey; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*