Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42237248›Full record

ArticleBMC geriatrics2026

What really matters to older adults in life and treatment: a qualitative study on the role of connectedness in person-centered care.

Anneke G Julien, Willeke M Ravensbergen-Roobol, Veerle M G T H van der Klei, Mabel J E Maissan, Bas F M van Raaij, Frederiek van den Bos, Simon P Mooijaart, Jacobijn Gussekloo, Yvonne M Drewes

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC geriatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

9 authors.

Anneke G JulienDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. a.g.julien@lumc.nl.
Willeke M Ravensbergen-RoobolLUMC Center for Health and Aging (LUCHA), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Veerle M G T H van der KleiDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Mabel J E MaissanDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Bas F M van RaaijDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Frederiek van den BosDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Simon P MooijaartDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Jacobijn GusseklooDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Yvonne M DrewesDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHealthcare professionals experience challenges in eliciting what really matters to older adults in person-centered care with shared decision-making. The framework of internal and external connectedness to life is a promising model for explicating individual values and preferences. We aimed to explore the relation between this framework and what really matters to older adults in life and treatment.

methodsThis qualitative study followed a thematic content analysis of 25 interviews with heterogeneous older adults aged ≥ 70 years in the Netherlands.

resultsOur analyses identified four themes. First, participants (mean age, 80 years, range 70-99 years) considered feeling connected to life to play a vital role in life, disease and treatment-decisions. Participants connected to life differently through personally meaningful activities in line with their own connectedness orientation. The extent to which participants felt connected to life differed. Second, their acceptance of life's finiteness differed equally. Third, both their connection to life and acceptance of its finiteness colored participants' overall willingness to be treated and their treatment goals. Fourth, multiple factors were described as disconnecting (physical suffering, unenjoyment food, non-recognition self, living context), while relationality between healthcare provider and receiver was considered connecting. Accordingly, these factors mediated treatment decisions.

conclusionsOlder adults' overall willingness to be treated and subsequent treatment goals are colored by the extent to which they feel connected to life and accept life's finiteness. The framework of connectedness to life could provide healthcare professionals with words to elicit and interpret what really matters to older adults during clinical decision-making, and therefore help tailor person-centered care.

Indexed as

Patient-Centered CareQualitative ResearchAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleNetherlandsConnectedness to lifeFiniteness of lifeRelationalityShared decision makingTreatment goals

Identifiers

PMID42237248
PMCPMC13425873

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.