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Cautionary Tales in the Interpretation of Clinical Studies Involving Older Persons

Overview of attention for article published in JAMA Internal Medicine, April 2010
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66 Mendeley
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Title
Cautionary Tales in the Interpretation of Clinical Studies Involving Older Persons
Published in
JAMA Internal Medicine, April 2010
DOI 10.1001/archinternmed.2010.18
Pubmed ID
Authors

Ian A. Scott, Gordon H. Guyatt

Abstract

The care of patients 65 years or older presents a challenge for evidence-based medicine. Such patients are underrepresented in clinical trials, are more vulnerable to treatment-induced harm, and often are unable to fully participate in treatment decisions. We outline several cautionary themes in the interpretation of clinical studies of therapeutic interventions involving older persons as they apply to processes of everyday clinical decision making. In particular, we focus on issues of study design and quality of evidence, choice of outcome measures, missing outcome data, assessment of potential harm, quantifying treatment effects in individual patients (and adjusting these for effect modifiers and reduced life expectancy), eliciting patient values and preferences, prioritizing therapeutic goals and selection of treatments, and assisting patients in adhering to agreed therapeutic regimens.

Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 66 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
United Kingdom 1 2%
Spain 1 2%
United States 1 2%
Unknown 63 95%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Master 9 14%
Student > Bachelor 9 14%
Student > Postgraduate 8 12%
Professor > Associate Professor 7 11%
Student > Ph. D. Student 6 9%
Other 16 24%
Unknown 11 17%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Medicine and Dentistry 36 55%
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science 4 6%
Psychology 3 5%
Chemistry 2 3%
Social Sciences 2 3%
Other 5 8%
Unknown 14 21%