Older People??s Recommendations for Treating Symptoms: Repertoires of Lay Knowledge About Disease

Abstract

This paper explores the content of older people's repertoires of lay knowledge regarding treatment strategies for commonly occurring symptoms. Data were collected through in-depth personal interviews in a sample of people 65 years and older living in community settings and managing their own health. Respondents mentioned a total of 657 specific treatment recommendations for 15 symptoms. Although very few mentioned treatments that were uniformly harmful, over two-thirds recommended treatments that could be harmful under certain conditions. Most respondents also identified treatments considered palliative or therapeutic. Implications of the results for patient education are discussed.