How well do general practitioners know their elderly patients' social relations and feelings of loneliness?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Social relationships are important to people and affect their quality of life, morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between elderly patients' descriptions of their social relations and feelings of loneliness, and their general practitioners' assessments of these.

Methods

Cross-sectional study in 12 general practices in the Capital Region of Denmark. During a three-week period each practice asked their patients aged 65 and older to fill out a questionnaire regarding health, social relations and loneliness; the general practitioner (GP) filled out a matching questionnaire regarding their perception of the patient's social relations and loneliness. Data were collected from February to September 2014.

Results

Of the 767

SUBMITTER: Due TD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5828068 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature