Simple Ways Doctors Can Reduce Patient Work in Older Care

Older patients who face multiple illnesses often feel overworked by their treatment plans.
This extra effort can hurt how well they live and follow doctors’ advice, so clinicians must focus on easing this burden—yet it’s unclear which doctors do this best.

A new study set out to create a quick tool that lets clinicians see how much they are paying attention to treatment load in their patients. The researchers tested the tool’s consistency and found it works well for rapid checks.

They then examined doctors in Japan to identify traits linked to higher priority given to treatment burden. Results showed that physicians who:

• Spent more time with patients
• Listened closely
• Understood each patient’s daily life in depth

were better at cutting back on unnecessary tests or medications.

Conversely, doctors who felt very busy and had many patients tended to give less weight to treatment burden. The study also highlighted that those who completed additional training in patient‑centered care were more likely to reduce the work patients must do.

The Tool

The new scale offers a simple way for doctors to spot when they might be over‑loading their patients. By using it, clinics can:

• Adjust appointment lengths
• Simplify medication schedules
• Involve family members or caregivers more

Implications

The findings suggest that medical schools and hospitals should teach doctors how to assess and lower treatment burden, especially for older people with multiple health conditions.