Poster Number: EI 49 - Teaching Decisional Capacity Evaluation

Abstract

Introduction: Older adults are at increased risk for impaired decisional capacity due to higher risk for delirium, cognitive or sensory impairments. Older adults are more likely to have multimorbidities, face complex treatment decisions, and consider advance directives and end-of-life care options. Physicians regularly assess patients' decisional capacity with regards to medical treatments. Prior studies have found significant gaps between physician residents' perceptions of information conveyed and patients' understanding of medical treatment options during the informed consent process. It is imperative that physicians working with older adults are trained to evaluate decisional capacity.