Attitudes of Elderly Patients to Examinations and Treatments of Gastrointestinal Symptoms

In Western countries the number of very old people is growing rapidly, as is the number seeking medical help. The challenging decision that each physician is having to make more frequently is: How and to what extent should older patients be examined and treated? Symptoms attributable to the gastrointestinal tract are common among elderly people. With the rising incidence of gastrointestinal diseases with age, the indications for endoscopies should, in fact, be easier among older than among younger individuals (1‐5). In addition, the decision of the physician to perform an examination is ine uenced by the patient’s willingness to undergo endoscopy. In this study, the attitudes and apprehensions of elderly patients regarding the examinations and treatments of gastrointestinal symptoms were assessed.