“How old do you feel?” Subjective age as a tool to enhance communication in primary care: a pilot observational study

TL;DR

Asking patients 'How old do you feel?' in primary care can improve communication and understanding of their well-being.

Contribution

This pilot study explores the use of subjective age as a communication tool in primary care settings.

Findings

74% of consultations led to further discussions after asking the question.

80% of physicians felt the question improved their understanding of the patient.

62% of physicians believed the question benefited the patient.

Abstract

Subjective age has been linked to health outcomes, including functional decline and increased mortality risk. However, its utility in primary care settings remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate whether the question “How old do you feel?” could enhance physician-patient communication.

In this pilot observational study, thirteen primary care physicians (PCPs) asked 194 patients aged 50 and older the question “How old do you feel?” during clinical encounters. Following each encounter, PCPs completed a questionnaire to assess the impact of the question on the consultation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and univariate analysis was performed with a mixed-effects logistic regression model to identify factors influencing physicians’ perceptions of the question’s utility. We also evaluated their free-text responses to understand their perceptions of this question.

PCPs reported positive experiences, with 74% of consultations leading to further discussions, and 80% of PCPs felt the question improved their understanding of the patient. 62% believed the question benefited the patient. Factors such as physician age, experience, and patient multimorbidity were significantly associated with positive perceptions of the question’s utility.

This study suggests that asking “How old do you feel?” can enhance communication between PCPs and patients, providing valuable insights into patients’ overall well-being. This question may help identify vulnerable patients and improve care. Future studies should explore its broader applicability and long-term effects in diverse primary care settings to assess its potential as a standard tool in clinical practice.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12875-025-03146-9.