Physician /elder communication: Voices not heard

Older adults represent the fastest growing segment of the population and average more than two times the number of physician contacts per year than do persons under the age of sixty-five (Duncker & Greenberg, 1998). Communication with older adults can affect the individual's sense of their own life satisfaction and patient-physician interactions can have important consequences for the quality of life of the patient. While studies have been conducted that look at patient-physician communication, the majority have been quantitative and few have focused on provider-elderly patient relationships. Even fewer have considered the meaning of the communication for the older adult. The purpose of this study was to explore the nature and meaning of communication between older adults and physicians from the perspective of the older person. This qualitative study used a phenomenological approach in order to understand the participants' interpretation of their experiences communicating with physicians. Data was collected through in-depth individual interviews with men and women age 70 and older. Research questions included: what is the nature of communication between older persons and physicians, and what meaning does the communication have for the older person. Results indicate that participants experienced a lack of empathy from physicians, poor results from self-disclosing information, being objectified by physicians, and not having a sense of control related to their health care. Contrary to earlier reports, participants in this research study demonstrated a desire to share control in matters related to their health with their physicians.