Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40155879›Full record

SynthesisBMC primary care2025

Attributes of family physician encounters valued by older adults: a systematic review.

Rebecca H Correia, Darly Dash, Zain Pasat, Ryan P Strum, Komal Aryal, Humayun Kabir, Maya Potter, Elaine Swayze, Pat Beaudoin, Pat Ward and 1 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC primary care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. 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

11 authors.

Rebecca H CorreiaDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada. correirh@mcmaster.ca.
Darly DashDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada.
Zain PasatDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada.
Ryan P StrumDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada.
Komal AryalDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada.
Humayun KabirDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada.
Maya PotterTemerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
Elaine SwayzeCollaborative for Health and Aging, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Pat BeaudoinCollaborative for Health and Aging, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Pat WardCollaborative for Health and Aging, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Henry Yu-Hin SiuDepartment of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.

Funding

McMaster University Collaborative for Health and Aging Partnership in Research FellowshipTransdisciplinary Understanding and Training on Research - Primary Health Care Patient and Community Engagement in Primary Health Care Research Fellowship
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOlder adults (aged ≥ 65) are frequent users of primary care services, often presenting with unique values, needs, expectations, and preferences for family physician encounters compared to patients of younger ages. This review identified and synthesized the attributes of family physician encounters that older patients prioritize, spanning the time of accessing primary care to post-visit.

methodsWe conducted a systematic search of three electronic databases (MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Web of Science) to identify peer-reviewed research articles of any design. Seven reviewers screened and extracted information using a standardized template. We narratively synthesized findings across the included studies. Older adult patient partners provided strategic input throughout the key phases of this review, including developing the research question, literature screening and synthesis, and interpreting the findings to enhance relevance and applicability.

resultsWe identified 28,461 articles for screening after duplicate removal. Title and abstract screening resulted in 463 retained articles, with 62 articles included for analysis after full-text screening. We identified six key attributes of family physician encounters that older adults value before, during, and after visits: trust in providers, feeling heard, effective information exchange, affective behaviours, continuity of care (longitudinal relationships), and foresight/future planning.

conclusionsOur findings synthesizing international evidence highlight which attributes matter most to older primary care patients as they age and increasingly access family physicians. These attributes can guide primary care planning, organization, and physician education/training to promote high-quality care for older adults. REGISTRATION: Our systematic review was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024555970).

Indexed as

Physician-Patient RelationsPhysicians, FamilyPrimary Health CareAgedHumansTrustHealth services for the agedPatient carePatient participationPatient preferencePhysicians, Family

Identifiers

PMID40155879
PMCPMC11954301

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

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.