Are physicians sensitive to the special problems of older patients?
The sensitivity of primary care physicians to the health care needs of older patients was explored by means of an analysis of the use of diagnostic tests and therapeutic procedures during ambulatory visits. Survey data on a total of 28,265 visits to internists, family and general practitioners were examined to determine possible age-related differences in care. The study found that diagnostic testing falls off significantly for patients 75 years of age or older and that internists use substantially more tests for each age group than do family and general practitioners. The pattern of use of diagnostic tests in this secondary analysis does not address the issue of "appropriateness" but does suggest a pattern that makes little sense based on the known distribution of disease and functional disability in aging populations.
Radecki
S E
SE
Multicampus Division of Geriatric Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine 90024.
Kane
R L
RL
Solomon
D H
DH
Mendenhall
R C
RC
Beck
J C
JC
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003625:Data Collection; D003954:Diagnostic Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014481:United States