Experiences of Patient-Centered Care Among Older Community-Dwelling Australians

BACKGROUND: Older adults represent the largest consumers of health care. It is, therefore, important that they receive adequate patient-centered care to empower them to be proactive in managing their health. AIMS: This study examined the proportion of older community-dwelling individuals who report receiving patient-centered care during healthcare consultations. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 117 clients of an Australian aged care provider. Clients completed a survey examining their perceptions of whether they received patient-centered care (11-items) from healthcare professionals. RESULTS: The mean number of patient-centered care items reported was 8.7 (±3.1). Speaking to the patient with respect was the item most often reported to be patient-centered (94%). Asking patients about treatment goals or expectations (62%) and how involved they would like to be in treatment (67%) were the items least reported to be patient-centered. CONCLUSION: Older adults perceived some important aspects of care were not provided with a patient-centered approach. There is a need to improve healthcare providers' elicitation of older patients' care preferences, enabling patients to determine their level of involvement in their health management.