Keywords: Subjective age; chronological age; Functional Health; Perceived Age

Background:

Subjective age has been linked to health outcomes, including functional decline and increased mortality risk. However, its utility in primary care settings remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate whether the question "How old do you feel?" could enhance physician-patient communication and improve patient care in primary care consultations.

Research questions:

1. Do GPs find this question useful in clinical encounters?
2. Do GPs find the question leads to useful information and discussion?
3. Do GPs feel the question beneficial to understanding the patient better?

Method:

In this observational study, thirteen primary care physicians (PCPs) asked 194 patients aged 50 and older the question "How old do you feel?" during clinical encounters. Following each encounter, PCPs completed a questionnaire to assess the impact of the question on the consultation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression to identify factors influencing physicians' perceptions of the question’s utility. We also evaluated their free text responses to understand their perceptions of this question.

Results:

Conclusions:

PCPs reported positive experiences, with 74% of consultations leading to further discussions, and 80% of PCPs felt the question improved their understanding of the patient. Sixty-two percent believed the question benefited the patient. Factors such as physician age, experience, and patient multimorbidity were significantly associated with positive perceptions of the question’s utility.

Points for discussion:

How can we further the understanding of this tool?

How can we increase GPs awareness of this tool?

Should further research examine patient's perception of this question?