ABSTRACT
Elderspeak is often used when talking to older individuals and is characterised by a slower and/or louder speech, a patronising tone, etc. A part of the reason of such communication can be found in the actual context of negative view of ageing. However, the link between view of ageing and elderspeak has never been objectively studied in oncology. Therefore, 40 healthcare professionals (physicians and medical students) record a podcast where they have to explain an endocrine therapy to two fictional patients (40- vs. 70-year old). Results show that when participants explained the treatment to the older patient, they used shorter utterances and made more repetitions. They also evoked fewer side effects such as sexual issues. Moreover, reduction in length of utterances and of word-per-minute rate was observed for older patient when participants have a positive view of ageing but for both patients when they have a negative view of ageing. In conclusion, physicians and medical students used elderspeak when they explained a treatment to older patients. Participants with a more negative view of ageing also unconsciously talked slower and made shorter utterances to a 40 -year-old patient.
Subject(s)
Ageism , Attitude of Health Personnel , Physicians , Speech , Stereotyping , Students, Medical , Adult , Aged , Communication , Female , Humans , Male , Medical Staff , Middle Aged , Patient Education as Topic , Physician-Patient Relations , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Although the incidence of cancer increases with age, elderly patients are often excluded from clinical trials. In addition, elderly patients are frequently undertreated in comparison to younger patients. One explanation for these observations is age stigma (i.e. ageism). In this context, this study has two objectives: (1) to replicate the results of previous studies that reported differential support of medical treatment depending on the patient's age in a different healthcare provider population (nurses rather than physicians); and (2) to determine whether support for expensive immunotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy, or breast reconstruction is linked to ageism among nurses. METHOD: The participants were 76 nurses who specialized in oncology. They received four clinical vignettes: one vignette about an immunotherapy with a high societal cost (age of patient: 40 vs. 70 years), and three vignettes about adjuvant chemotherapy and breast reconstruction (age of patient: 35, 55, or 75 years - age was the only difference). A questionnaire and a fluency task were used to assess the participants' vision of aging. RESULTS: Our analyses show that support for immunotherapy, breast reconstruction, and chemotherapy is lower for older patients than for younger patients. Moreover, nurses' vision of aging influences support for breast reconstruction: nurses with a negative view of age discriminated more between a 75-year-old patient and a 35-year-old patient (less encouragement for the older patient). CONCLUSION: These results highlight the need for nurses and other healthcare providers to receive specific training about ageism and its consequences.
Subject(s)
Ageism/statistics & numerical data , Aging , Attitude of Health Personnel , Neoplasms/psychology , Nurses/psychology , Stereotyping , Adult , Aged , Belgium , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasms/therapy , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young AdultABSTRACT
Aging is a risk factor in oncology. Indeed, it is estimated that, in 2030, 70% of diagnosed cancers in the United States will concern subjects older than 65 years. Paradoxically, elderly are often excluded from clinical trials and are undertreated compared to younger patients. An important explanatory factor (and yet still not considered!) for these observations is the age stigma (in other words our stereotypes linked to age, and so ageism), age being actually the main motive for discrimination. In this perspective, our aim is to present ageism manifestations in oncogeriatry and their direct consequences for patients, interlocutors (that is to say health professionals) and interactions between them. Throughout this article, we will enhance our remarks by data from researches in "normal" aging. Before ending, we will give some intervention leads potentially applicable in oncogeriatry, to reduce ageism deleterious effect.
