title: Non-medical needs of older patients in the emergency department.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the non-medical needs of older patients in the emergency department (ED).
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a cross-sectional survey of three age groups (50-64, 65-79, 80+ years) using a self-administered questionnaire with five response options (strongly agree-strongly disagree) for 31 items.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 548 patients enrolled. Significantly fewer older patients knew how to call for assistance (P < 0.01), knew how the ED works (P < 0.01), felt frightened by their illness (P < 0.01) or felt that the ED lights were too bright (P < 0.03). A substantial proportion of all patients did not agree that their illness and/or treatment had been well explained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older patients appear resilient but need to be told to call for assistance when needed, to know how to call for this assistance and how the ED works. Clear information regarding their illness and treatment should be provided, particularly to younger patients who may be anxious.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Australia.|Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Bonnia
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Australia. david.taylor@austin.org.au.|Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. david.taylor@austin.org.au.
authors.forename: David McD
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Australia.|Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Sophia L-Y
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: MacGibbon
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D032882:Comprehension; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008029:Lighting; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
keywords: emergency department; geriatrics; older people; patient satisfaction