General practitioners'knowledge of comorbidity in older adults:a survey in general hospitals
Li Xuejie
Yu Zekai
Sheng Yujiao
Lyu Wenchang
Ma Rong
Li Fan
Ren Jingjing
Abstract：Objective To investigate general practitioners'(GPs')knowledge,attitudes,and management practices regarding comorbidity in older adults in general hospitals,providing empirical support for optimizing clinical pathways,resource allo-cation,multidisciplinary collaboration,and GP capacity-building.Methods A cross-sectional online questionnaire survey of GPs in general hospitals was conducted in September 2024.The questionnaire covered basic GP demographics,GPs'knowl-edge of comorbidity and polypharmacy in older adults,deprescribing practices,and training needs.Survey results were ana-lyzed descriptively.Results Only 21.12%of GPs reported being very familiar with comorbidity in older adults;36.34%of GPs frequently performed comprehensive geriatric assessment for multimorbid inpatients.The proactive implementation rate of deprescribing was 60.25%.After discharge,45.65%of patients with comorbidity received follow-up,and 79.51%of GPs considered training in geriatric comorbidity management to be highly necessary.Conclusion Compared with the past,GPs in general hospitals have improved their awareness of comorbidity in older adults,but clear gradients related to profes-sional title remain.Deficiencies persist in polypharmacy management and the implementation capacity for comprehensive geriatric assessment.There is an urgent need to optimize clinical pathways,strengthen GP training,and promote multidisci-plinary collaboration to improve comprehensive management of comorbidity in older patients.
Keywords：Comorbidity in older adultsGeneral practitionerKnowledge statusGeneral hospital
Publication Date：2025-12-20
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-09(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 32-37 )