Simple Ways Doctors Can Reduce Patient Work in Older Care

Older patients who face many illnesses often feel overworked by their treatment plans. This extra effort can hurt how well they live and follow doctors’ advice. Doctors must therefore focus on easing this burden, but it is not clear 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 quick checks. They then looked at doctors in Japan to see what traits linked to higher priority given to treatment burden. Results showed that physicians who spent more time with patients, listened closely, and had a deeper understanding of each patient’s daily life were better at cutting back on unnecessary tests or medications.Doctors who felt very busy and had many patients on their list tended to give less weight to treatment burden. The study also highlighted that those who had completed additional training in patient‑centered care were more likely to reduce the work patients must do. 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 appointments, simplify medication schedules, and involve family members or caregivers more. 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.