PURPOSE: Many primary care physicians find caring for elderly patients difficult. The goal of this study was to develop a detailed understanding of why physicians find primary care with elderly patients difficult. DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted in-depth interviews with 20 primary care physicians. Using an iterative approach based on grounded theory techniques, a multidisciplinary team analyzed the content of the interviews and developed a conceptual model of the difficulty. RESULTS: Three major domains of difficulty emerged: (i) medical complexity and chronicity, (ii) personal and interpersonal challenges, and (iii) administrative burden. The greatest challenge occurred when difficulty in more than one area was present. Contextual conditions, such as the practice environment and the physician's training and personal values, shaped the experience of providing care and how difficult it seemed. IMPLICATIONS: Much of the difficulty participants experienced could be facilitated by changes in the health care delivery system and in medical education. The voices of these physicians and the model resulting from our analysis can inform such change.
PURPOSE: Many primary care physicians find caring for elderly patients difficult. The goal of this study was to develop a detailed understanding of why physicians find primary care with elderly patients difficult. DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted in-depth interviews with 20 primary care physicians. Using an iterative approach based on grounded theory techniques, a multidisciplinary team analyzed the content of the interviews and developed a conceptual model of the difficulty. RESULTS: Three major domains of difficulty emerged: (i) medical complexity and chronicity, (ii) personal and interpersonal challenges, and (iii) administrative burden. The greatest challenge occurred when difficulty in more than one area was present. Contextual conditions, such as the practice environment and the physician's training and personal values, shaped the experience of providing care and how difficult it seemed. IMPLICATIONS: Much of the difficulty participants experienced could be facilitated by changes in the health care delivery system and in medical education. The voices of these physicians and the model resulting from our analysis can inform such change.
Authors: Ainsley Moore; Christopher Patterson; Joy White; Shelly T House; John J Riva; Kalpana Nair; Allison Brown; Amjed Kadhim-Saleh; David McCann Journal: Can Fam Physician Date: 2012-08 Impact factor: 3.275
Authors: Jennifer M Reckrey; Theresa A Soriano; Cameron R Hernandez; Linda V DeCherrie; Silvia Chavez; Meng Zhang; Katherine Ornstein Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2015-01-30 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Ladson Hinton; Carol E Franz; Geetha Reddy; Yvette Flores; Richard L Kravitz; Judith C Barker Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2007-09-07 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Sean O' Mahony; Arthur Blank; Janice Simpson; Judy Persaud; Bernadette Huvane; Susan McAllen; Michelle Davitt; Marlene McHugh; Allen Hutcheson; Serife Karakas; Philip Higgins; Peter Selwyn Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2008-05 Impact factor: 3.671