The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #57912

Joanna Kaakinen, RN, PhD¹, Elayne Shapiro, Ph D², and Barbara Gayle, Ph D². (1) School of Nursing, University of Portland, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, (503)943-7726, kaakinen@up.edu, (2) Dept. of Communication Studies, University of Portland, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, OR 97203

Communication with the Elderly: a Test of the Consumerist Model The medical consumerist model (Haug & Lavin, 1981; Reeder, 1972) maintains that patients assume an egalitarian power relationship with their health provider. In contrast to the provider-centered model, (where power resides with the health care professional), the patient in the consumerist model assumes an active decision-making role. In comparison studies of younger and older patients (Beisecker, 1996, 1988; Ende et al., 1989; Greene et al 1987), elderly patients were found to be less likely to engage in the consumerist model and were perhaps more interested in their providers’ ability to understand the ramifications of their health issues. Blanchard et al. (1988) found that cancer patients wanted information but preferred to leave the decisions to the physician. Kaplan et al. (1995) found that patients 75 and older, with high school education or less, minority and male patents had the least participatory visits. Yet, as Thompson et al. (1993) observed, health care providers need to recognize individual differences. The present study, using Cox’s Health Self-Determination Index (1985), compared the consumerist preferences of the young-old (65-74), old (75-84) and old-old (85 years and above). Interviews and self-report data were collected from 60 elderly. The results of these data will be presented and discussed to answer the question whether different aged elderly use the consumerist model of health care.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session the participants will be able to identify characteristics of elderly who prefer a consumerist model with their health care provider.

Keywords: Decision-Making, Elderly

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Handout (.doc format, 97.0 kb)