Table 2.
Characteristics of the study population (n = 44).
| n (%) | |
|---|---|
| Gender | |
| Male | 13 (30) |
| Female | 31 (70) |
| Age (average; [min–max]): | 84 [69–98] |
| 65–79 | 13 (30) |
| ≥80 | 31 (70) |
| Polypharmacy (≥5 medicines): | 32 (73) |
| Amount of chronic diseases: | |
| 2–4 | 15 (34) |
| 5–7 | 18 (41) |
| ≥8 | 11 (25) |
| Care co-ordinated by* | |
| general practitioner/practice nurse | 12 (50) |
| In-home care provider | 10 (42) |
| other | 2 (5) |
| no-one | 17 (39) |
| ‘I don’t know’ | 3 (7) |
| Informal caregiver**: | |
| spouse | 4 (9) |
| children/son-/-daughter-in-law | 32 (73) |
| other family members | 17 (39) |
| neighbours/friends/acquaintances | 15 (34) |
| none | 3 (7) |
* Patients could have more than one care co-ordinator.
** Patients could have more than one informal caregiver.