title: History-taking in the elderly: obtaining useful information.
abstract: Although the medical history in the average adult can approach a diagnostic yield of 90%, its utility in geriatric patients is often much lower. Potential barriers to communication with the elderly include cognitive, behavioral, and physical problems. This article suggests techniques the primary care physician can use to overcome these obstacles and get the maximum diagnostic information from the patient history.
authors.affiliation: Section of geriatric medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, New York City.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Fields
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods*