Processing of Medical information in Aging Patients
Cognitive and Human Factors Perspectives
Edited by Roger W. Morrell, Kim Shifren, Denise Park, Denise Park
Psychology Press – 1999 – 344 pages
This volume focuses on understanding the impact of age-related decline in cognitive abilities on medical decisions and compliance with medical instructions. It examines how medical information and the medical environment can be restructured to accommodate the decreased cognitive function associated with aging. Although the issues discussed in this book are of critical importance in providing effective health care, they have been largely neglected in the national debate over provision of health care for the increasingly aging population. It is essential that we begin to understand how to present information so that informed choices are made and patients comprehend well enough that they can follow their treatment regimens and understand the importance of those regimens.
Divided into four major sections, this volume addresses the following issues:
* the implications of cognitive aging for medical information processing;
* aging and medical decision making;
* aging and medication adherence; and
* human factors design for medical devices and instructions.
"It is a great pleasure to read this carefully edited book with such a good choice of chapters. On the whole, I believe that this book allows for an excellent integration of applied issues of cognition in later life within contextual, motivational, and emotional perspectives. This book brings together the state-of-the-art knowledge on medication adherence and on medical decision making."
"…contains a wealth of theory and research findings regarding the process of health care decision making and medication adherence. Edited works can be difficult to integrate, but the editors have accomplished this task and have provided a comprehensive, readable, and highly provocative text….a highly readable and informative text. I recommend the book to researchers and practitioners interested in the process of medical decision making, medication adherence, and use of medical information or medical equipment among older adults. The chapters contain a wealth of information regarding the design of research in these areas as well as practical suggestions for improving the performance of older adults at related tasks."
Contents: Part I:Introduction. D.C. Park, Aging and the Controlled and Automatic Processing of Medical Information and Medical Intentions. J.B. Halter, The Challenge of Communicating Health Information to Elderly Patients: A View From Geriatric Medicine. Part II:Medical Decision Making. J.F. Yates, A.L. Patalano, Decision Making and Aging. M.D. Zwahr, Cognitive Processes and Medical Decisions. G.M. Williamson, D.J. Jones, L.A. Ingram, Medical and Psychosocial Predictors of Breast Cancer Treatment Decisions. N. Schwarz, Frequency Reports of Physical Symptoms and Health Behaviors: How the Questionnaire Determines the Results. D. Marson, L. Harrell, Neurocognitive Changes Associated With Loss of Capacity to Consent to Medical Treatment in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease. V.L. Patel, J.F. Arocha, Medical Expertise and Cognitive Aging. Part III:Medication Adherence. E.A. Leventhal, H. Leventhal, C. Robitaille, S. Brownlee, Psychosocial Factors in Medication Adherence: A Model of the Modeler. O.N. Gould, Cognition and Affect in Medication Adherence. R.W. Morrell, K. Shifren, Issues in the Measurement of Medication Adherence. S.L. Willis, M.M. Dolan, R.M. Bertrand, Problem Solving on Health-Related Tasks of Daily Living. Part IV:Human Factors. M.S. Bogner, How Do I Work This Thing? Cognitive Issues in Home Medical Equipment Use and Maintenance. J. Hartley, What Does It Say? Text Design, Medical Information, and Older Adults. D. Morrow, V.O. Leirer, Designing Medication Instructions for Older Adults. W.A. Rogers, G.K. Rousseau, N. Lamson, Maximizing the Effectiveness of the Warning Process: Understanding the Variables That Interact With Age. M.S. Wogalter, R.J. Sojourner, Research on Pharmaceutical Labeling: An Information Processing Approach.