title: [Adjusting medication: elderly patient's preference counts].
abstract: Elderly patients with multimorbidity treated in accordance with disease-specific guidelines use a large number of drugs. As this approach may harm the patient's wellbeing, our care should evolve from disease-oriented to patient-oriented. A simple tool has been introduced to facilitate this type of consultation. On a visual analogue scale (VAS; 0-100) four generic treatment goals are presented to the patient: extending life, maintaining independence, pain relief and relief of other symptoms. The patient is invited to weigh the importance of these outcomes using the 'trade-off' principle, and asked to rank these goals in such a way that the score reflects the patient's preference profile. With the help of this decision aid, the medication of two female patients aged 85 and 94 was reviewed. Embedding this tool in the first step of the medication review process may help to shift the focus from the disease to the patient.
authors.affiliation: Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen, afd. Huisartsgeneeskunde, Groningen.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schuling
authors.forename: Renée
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sytema
authors.forename: Annette J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Berendsen
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059408:Pain Management; D010349:Patient Compliance; D057240:Patient Preference; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D011788:Quality of Life