Patient and professional perspectives on a primary care multidimensional pre-consultation tool for older adults (ESOGER): A qualitative study
Authors: Tremblay Alexandre , Develay Élise , Beauchet Olivier , Authier Marie , Khanassov Vladimir , Milius Djims , Plante Audrey , Adams Alayne Mary , Couturier Yves , Motulsky Aude , Rice Kathleen , Kaczorowski Janusz , Quesnel-Vallée Amélie , Godard-Sebillotte Claire , Archambault Patrick , Tchouaket Éric , Layani Géraldine , Breton Mylaine , Dufresne-Tassé Colette , Lussier Marie-Therèse , Hébert Paul , Sourial Nadia 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background
Pre-consultation tools offer a promising method for patients and healthcare providers (HCPs) to better address health concerns in a personalized and proactive manner by offering ways to collect information, prepare for consultation and offer an aid in the clinical encounter. These tools with older adults could be particularly appropriate in identifying physical and cognitive needs related to aging, as much as giving ways into identifying psychological and social needs.
Objective
This study aims to compare the perspectives and experience of older adults and HCPs using a multidimensional telephone-based pre-consultation tool, called ESOGER, in the context of primary care.
Methods
Data collection was conducted in four family medicine groups (FMGs) in Quebec between May 2022 and February 2023 among older adults and HCPs through semi-structured interview and focus groups. The analysis was completed through an iterative inductive-deductive process using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), and Proctor et al. (2011) frameworks in implementation sciences.
Results
ESGOER was considered an acceptable method for gathering information, with its short length and use of telephone to administrate the tool seen as preferable by both older adults and HCPs. While perceptions on the tool’s utility in collecting new information about physical and cognitive needs of older adults were mixed, the inclusion of questions on mental health and social situations was seen as appropriate by older adults as they felt it asked new questions and gave valuable information to their HCPs. In return, HCPs considered that ESOGER could enable them to tackle these dimensions that are often overlooked during consultation. The tool appeared to be particularly useful as a mean for preparation and a reference to use during consultations as an aid to conversation. Sustainable implementation of pre-consultation tool was seen as favorable by both older adults and professionals, but conditions for a long-term implementation need to be further explored.
Conclusion
This study found that a multidimensional telephone-based pre-consultation tool has potential utility for older adults and HCPs in the primary care setting. Important features of the ESOGER tool shared by both groups included the use of the telephone for administration of the tool, the inclusion of mental and social needs, and its role as an aid to conversation during consultation. However, resource availability and the need to target specific subpopulations or particular timeframe were factors that were found to limit the utility of such pre-consultation tools in the long term.