Predicting the health-related values and preferences of geriatric patients.

Abstract

Sociodemographic and functional status variables are relatively weak predictors of personal values and directives. This reinforces the importance of routinely eliciting patient values and preferences and of updating the information, particularly following changes in functional status or family support. Baseline information regarding the health-related values and preferences of this primary care geriatric clinic population may provide valuable information about the values and preferences of decisionally impaired older patients.