RESUMO
Background: The lack of specialized geriatric healthcare in India, coupled with an aging population, has resulted in longer wait times, communication barriers, and a potential increase in unmet needs in a demographic that is already financially and socially vulnerable. This raises the need for exploring the perspectives and needs of the geriatric patient population to improve the quality and accessibility of the healthcare they receive. Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the perceptions and perceived needs of geriatric patients regarding current healthcare and their attitudes toward specialized geriatric healthcare. Materials and methods: Following the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC), a cross-sectional study was carried out among 262 geriatric patients (age >60) from seven outpatient departments (OPD). A structured 10-item questionnaire was administered to assess the perceptions and perceived needs of the study population. Results: A total of 165 (63%) patients were not satisfied with the healthcare being provided to them. Around 96.1% of patients felt the need for a separate geriatric OPD/department. A total of 98% of patients had optimistic attitudes toward the possibility of specialized geriatric healthcare. A total of >80% of the patients were willing to spend more time for checkups and follow-ups regularly if that would improve their quality of life. Conclusion: This study showed a low satisfaction rate of geriatric patients with the current healthcare and a high felt need for specialized geriatric facilities. There was an overall positive attitude of patients toward the implementation of various facilities of specialized geriatric healthcare.
RESUMO
Background: Within the next few decades, India will witness a staggering increase in its elderly population owing to advancements in health care. However, an increase in life span is not mutually inclusive with high quality of living. Old age is associated with multiple ailments which decreases functionality and increases dependency, several of which go undiagnosed while catering to primary complaints. This prompts the need for a comprehensive approach to the healthcare of the elderly for which Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA is widely practiced in the west. Objectives: This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of undiagnosed medical problems by Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) Screening and explore its applicability in Indian tertiary healthcare setup. Methodology: Following ethical approval of the institute, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 262 geriatric patients with age over 60 years, from seven out-patients departments. A Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) inventory was prepared by compiling screening instruments for Visual acuity, Hearing acuity, Dependency, Functionality, Depression, Cognitive impairment, Fall risk, Urinary incontinence, Nutritional Status and Insomnia. The participants were administered the screening inventory once they had already undergone a normal check-up in the OPDs. Results: Overall, 262 geriatric patients underwent CGA screening (Female: 57.3%, Male: 42.7%). There was a high prevalence of problems going undiagnosed ranging from 58.65% to 95.45% in various OPDs. Some problems had a significantly greater overall prevalence and were also prevalent in going undiagnosed in particular OPDs (urinary incontinence in Gynaecological OPD, p=0.003; insomnia in surgical OPD, p<0.005). Many patients who screened positive for certain problems were found to have a few other problems as well (dependency and cognitive impairment, p=0.003; insomnia and depression, p=0.0001). Conclusion: This study showed a high prevalence of problems going undiagnosed along with their associations with particular OPDs and other problems. Participants of this study showed a considerable acceptability for CGA. This reaffirmed the need for CGA in every geriatric patient in our tertiary care setup.