Patient Education and Counseling
Volume 80, Issue 2 , Pages 233-240, August 2010

“They do what they think is the best for me.” Frail elderly patients’ preferences for participation in their care during hospitalization

  • Anne W. Ekdahl

      Affiliations

    • Geriatric Department, Vrinnevi Hospital, Norrköping, Sweden
    • Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Norrköping, Sweden
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author at: Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Kungsgatan 40, SE 601 74 Norrköping, Sweden. Tel.: +46 73 84 84 250.
    • ,
  • Lars Andersson

      Affiliations

    • National Institute for the Study of Ageing and Later Life, Linköping University, Sweden
    • ,
  • Maria Friedrichsen

      Affiliations

    • Palliative Education and Research Center, Unit of Palliative Care, Sweden
    • Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Norrköping, Sweden

Received 4 March 2009; received in revised form 20 October 2009; accepted 28 October 2009. published online 30 November 2009.

Abstract 

Objective

To deepen the knowledge of frail elderly patients’ preferences for participation in medical decision making during hospitalization.

Methods

Qualitative study using content analysis of semi-structured interviews.

Results

Patient participation to frail elderly means information, not the wish to take part in decisions about their medical treatments. They view the hospital care system as an institution of power with which they cannot argue. Participation is complicated by barriers such as the numerous persons involved in their care who do not know them and their preferences, differing treatment strategies among doctors, fast patient turnover in hospitals, stressed personnel and linguistic problems due to doctors not always speaking the patient's own language.

Conclusion

The results of the study show that, to frail elderly patients, participation in medical decision making is primarily a question of good communication and information, not participation in decisions about medical treatments.

Practice implications

More time should be given to thorough information and as few people as possible should be involved in the care of frail elderly. Linguistic problems should be identified to make it possible to take the necessary precautions to prevent negative impact on patient participation.

Keywords: Patient participation, Frail elderly, Hospitalization, Semi-structured interviews, Content analysis

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PII: S0738-3991(09)00516-3

doi:10.1016/j.pec.2009.10.026

Patient Education and Counseling
Volume 80, Issue 2 , Pages 233-240, August 2010

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