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BMC Health Services Research

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Open Access 01-12-2005 | Research article

Patient involvement in medical decision-making and pain among elders: physician or patient-driven?

Authors: Tyrone F Borders, Ke Tom Xu, James Heavner, Gina Kruse

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2005

Abstract

Background

Pain is highly prevalent among older adults, but little is known about how patient involvement in medical decision-making may play a role in limiting its occurrence or severity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether physician-driven and patient-driven participation in decision-making were associated with the odds of frequent and severe pain.

Methods

A cross-sectional population-based survey of 3,135 persons age 65 and older was conducted in the 108-county region comprising West Texas. The survey included self-reports of frequent pain and, among those with frequent pain, the severity of pain.

Results

Findings from multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that higher patient-driven participation in decision-making was associated with lower odds (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.75–0.89) of frequent pain, but was not significantly associated with severe pain. Physician-driven participation was not significantly associated with frequent or severe pain.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that patients may need to initiate involvement in medical decision-making to reduce their chances of experiencing frequent pain. Changes to other modifiable health care characteristics, including access to a personal doctor and health insurance coverage, may be more conducive to limiting the risk of severe pain.

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The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/5/4/prepub

Title: Patient involvement in medical decision-making and pain among elders: physician or patient-driven?
Authors: Tyrone F Borders
Ke Tom Xu
James Heavner
Gina Kruse
Publication date: 01-12-2005
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2005
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-5-4

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Patient involvement in medical decision-making and pain among elders: physician or patient-driven?

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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