Preferences for health inquiry among adults aged 50 and over

The study has two main objectives: (1) to determine the proportion of adults >= 50 years of age who prefer to have their physician inquire about their functional and emotional health status, and (2) what physician, patient, and medical care system factors are associated with these preferences. The findings suggest that 76% of patients want their physician to inquire about their functional health and 72% want their physician to inquire about their emotional health during the medical encounter. Further analyses show that type of inquiry is strongly associated with patient's preference. Multiple regression models showed congruence regarding physician inquiry about functional and emotional health and patients' preferences for this type of inquiry. The current study is valuable because it highlights the importance of communication exchange during the medical encounter. Physicians are encouraged to inquire into older patients' functional and emotional health status.