LAY EVALUATION OF SYMPTOMS BY OLDER-PEOPLE - AN ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL RISK

This paper examines the appropriateness of lay evaluations of potentia l risk of symptoms among a sample of 667 elderly people living in comm unity settings. Data were gathered through personal interviews and 3 w eeks of structured health diaries in which older respondents recorded the symptoms they experienced. Potential medical risk was determined o n a symptom by symptom basis based on clinical information gathered du ring the interviews. Almost three fourths of the respondents exhibited potential clinical risk for at least one symptom they experienced dur ing the 3-week diary period. One in eight respondents was judged at ri sk yet gave no evidence of physician consultation, either during or pr ior to the diary period. Implications of these results for health educ ation designed to improve consultation decisions among elderly people are discussed.