title: [Evaluation of the capacity of elderly patients to make decisions about their health].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the decision-making capacity and variables related to this, in elderly patients in a home care program.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted on 130 patients assigned to home care program or in social welfare residences of an urban health centre. Demographic variables, as well as comorbidities, social support, institutionalisation, number of drugs used, degree of dependence (Barthel Index), cognitive function (Pfeiffer) were collected. The primary endpoint was the capacity for decision-making about their health assessed using the Aid to Capacity Evaluation (ACE) tool.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a prevalence of 58.5% capacity. There was an association between ability and independence for activities of daily living (odds ratio (OR): 12.214; Confidence interval 95% (95% CI): 3.90 to 32.29, P <.0001) and function intellectual intact (OR: 282.750, 95% CI 34.0 to 2351.2, P <.0001). Numeric variables associated with the capacity for decision-making that had a more important effect size were the Barthel index (d: -1.398) and Pfeiffer index (d: 3.084).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of incapacity to make decisions about their health in elderly patients who are cared for in their homes is high. The level of dependence in activities of daily living and the deterioration of intellectual function are factors associated with the presence of this capacity.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica Adoratrices, Distrito Sanitario Huelva-Costa, Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Huelva, España. Electronic address: fatienzam@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Atienza-Martín
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garrido-Lozano
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Losada-Ruiz
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Fernández
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Revuelta-Pérez
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marín-Andrés
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D015438:Health Behavior; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency
keywords: Atención primaria de salud; Competencia mental; Decision making; Home care services; Mental competency; Primary health care; Servicios de atención de salud a domicilio; Toma de decisiones