Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39603057›Full record

ArticlePatient education and counseling2025

Tips from clinicians about if, when, and how to discuss life expectancy with older adults.

Laura E Brotzman, Jeffrey T Kullgren, Kyra Powers, Brian J Zikmund-Fisher

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Patient education and counseling, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Laura E BrotzmanDepartment of Health Behavior and Health Equity, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, USA. Electronic address: lebrotz@umich.edu.
Jeffrey T KullgrenVA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA; Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. Electronic address: jkullgre@med.umich.edu.
Kyra PowersDepartment of Health Behavior and Health Equity, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, USA. Electronic address: power106@msu.edu.
Brian J Zikmund-FisherDepartment of Health Behavior and Health Equity, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. Electronic address: bzikmund@umich.edu.

Funding

Interdisciplinary Research Training on Health and AgingT32AG027708 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI Lindsay C Kobayashi, Briana Mezuk · 2008 to 2026
$2.7M
NIA NIH HHS T32 AG027708
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesEstimates of life expectancy can inform clinical recommendations and decisions for older adults, but many clinicians find it difficult to discuss. We interviewed primary care clinicians to identify best practices for discussing life expectancy with older adults.

methodsTwenty-one primary care clinicians (Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Geriatrics) completed in-depth interviews on Zoom or by telephone. Topics included estimation and discussion of life expectancy with older patients to guide cancer screening and preventive care decisions. We transcribed, coded, and inductively analyzed interviews using a thematic analysis approach.

resultsMost clinicians recommended individualizing communication about life expectancy versus a standardized approach. Although many clinicians worry that conversations about life expectancy won't go well, successful conversations are possible when clinicians bring humility, care, and attention to these interactions. Clinicians identified seven steps that they find effective for deciding if, when, and how to discuss life expectancy with older patients and detailed tips for using these steps in practice.

conclusionsClinicians can take multiple steps to optimize conversations about life expectancy to personalize medical decision making. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The tips and language presented provide a helpful starting point for clinicians to have conversations about life expectancy and appropriate care with older adults.

Indexed as

CommunicationInterviews as TopicLife ExpectancyPhysician-Patient RelationsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overDecision MakingFemaleGeriatricsHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrimary Health CareQualitative ResearchLife expectancyMedical decision makingPatient-provider communicationPrimary carePrognosis

Identifiers

PMID39603057
PMCPMC12805939

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.