Lay evaluation of symptoms by older people: an assessment of potential risk.

This paper examines the appropriateness of lay evaluations of potential risk of symptoms among a sample of 667 elderly people living in community settings. Data were gathered through personal interviews and 3 weeks of structured health diaries in which older respondents recorded the symptoms they experienced. Potential medical risk was determined on a symptom by symptom basis based on clinical information gathered during the interviews. Almost three fourths of the respondents exhibited potential clinical risk for at least one symptom they experienced during the 3-week diary period. One in eight respondents was judged at risk yet gave no evidence of physician consultation, either during or prior to the diary period. Implications of these results for health education designed to improve consultation decisions among elderly people are discussed.