Patient preferences in geriatric wards, a survey of health care professionals' practice, experience and attitudes

Hege Ihle-Hansen; R Pedersen; S F Westbye; T J L Sævareid; L Brøderud; M H Larsen; K Hermansen; S Rostoft; M Romøren

doi:10.1007/s41999-023-00922-7

Patient preferences in geriatric wards, a survey of health care professionals' practice, experience and attitudes

Eur Geriatr Med. 2024 Feb;15(1):153-158. doi: 10.1007/s41999-023-00922-7. Epub 2024 Jan 29.

Authors

Hege Ihle-Hansen^{1

2

3}, R Pedersen^{4

5}, S F Westbye^{4

5}, T J L Sævareid⁴, L Brøderud⁴, M H Larsen⁶, K Hermansen^{4

7}, S Rostoft^{5

8}, M Romøren^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Medical Ethics, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. hmihle@ous-hf.no.
² Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. hmihle@ous-hf.no.
³ Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. hmihle@ous-hf.no.
⁴ Centre for Medical Ethics, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
⁵ Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
⁶ Lovisenberg Diaconal University College, Oslo, Norway.
⁷ Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Aalesund, Norway.
⁸ Department of Geriatric Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

Abstract

Purpose: We aimed to identify whether health care professionals (HCP) examine their patient and next-of-kin preferences, and to study whether medical decisions follow these preferences.

Method: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted with multidisciplinary HCP from 12 geriatric wards in the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority.

Results: Of the 289 HCPs responding (response rate 61%), mean age 37.8 years (SD 11.3), 235 (81.3%) women, 12.4 (SD 9.6) years of experience and 67 (23.2%) medical doctors, only half report clarifying patients' preferences. The majority reported that they did not inform, involve and treat in line with such preferences. However, 53% believe that HCP, patients and next-of-kin should make clinical decisions together.

Discussion: Our findings indicate a lack of engagement in conversation and inclusion of patient preferences when providing health interventions in geriatric wards. Measures for change of culture are needed.

Keywords: Advance care planning; Patient preferences; Person-centered; Shared decision-making.

MeSH terms

Aged
Attitude of Health Personnel
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Health Personnel
Hospitals*
Humans
Male
Patient Preference*