Gram Research analysis of 451 older adults found that diet (20.4%), reducing medications (15.3%), and understanding health conditions (14.6%) are the topics patients most want to discuss with their doctors. Additionally, 11.1% of patients reported stopping or skipping medications due to cost or side effects, and 8% struggled with managing prescriptions from multiple doctors. These findings suggest that doctors should proactively address these specific concerns during visits with older adults taking multiple medications.
A new study asked older adults taking multiple medications what topics they most wanted to discuss with their doctors. Researchers collected responses from 451 patients at clinics and found that diet, reducing medications, and understanding their health conditions topped the list. The study also revealed that many patients struggle with medication costs and managing prescriptions from different doctors. These findings can help doctors prepare better conversations with older patients and create discussion guides that address what patients actually care about most.
Key Statistics
A 2026 study of 451 older adults taking multiple medications found that diet was the most frequently requested discussion topic at doctor visits, selected by 20.4% of patients, followed by reducing medication burden at 15.3%.
According to research reviewed by Gram, 11.1% of older adults reported stopping or skipping their medications due to cost or side effects, highlighting a critical gap between prescribed and actual medication use.
A 2026 analysis of patient priorities found that 8% of older adults on multiple medications expressed confusion about managing prescriptions from different doctors, indicating a significant coordination challenge in healthcare.
Research shows that understanding health conditions ranked as the third most important discussion topic for older adults, selected by 14.6% of patients in a 451-person study, suggesting patients want clearer medical education from their providers.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: What topics older adults with multiple health conditions most want to discuss with their doctors during office visits
- Who participated: 451 older adults (age 50+) taking 5 or more medications from two different clinic settings—a public hospital clinic and a private practice—in an urban area
- Key finding: The top three topics patients wanted to discuss were diet (20.4%), taking fewer medications (15.3%), and understanding their conditions (14.6%). Additionally, 11.1% of patients reported concerns about stopping or skipping medications due to cost or side effects
- What it means for you: If you’re an older adult managing multiple medications, knowing that these are common concerns validates your own questions. Doctors can use this information to bring up these topics proactively, making your visits more helpful and focused on what matters to you
The Research Details
Researchers created a simple 20-question visit guide that patients could use during doctor appointments. The guide asked patients to list questions they wanted to ask, concerns they wanted to share, and positive health behaviors they wanted to report. Patients at two different clinics—one public safety-net hospital and one private urban practice—filled out these guides during their visits. The researchers then analyzed which topics appeared most frequently to identify what patients cared about discussing most.
This approach is straightforward and practical: instead of guessing what patients want to talk about, the researchers simply asked them. By collecting responses from 451 patients across two different clinic settings, they captured a diverse group of older adults managing complex health situations. The study focused specifically on the “ask” and “tell” sections of the guide, meaning the questions patients wanted to ask and concerns they wanted to share.
Many doctor visits feel rushed, and patients often leave without asking important questions or sharing key concerns. This study helps doctors understand what topics matter most to their older patients, so they can prepare better conversations and make sure visits address what patients actually care about. When doctors know patients are worried about medication costs or confused about their conditions, they can plan to discuss these topics rather than letting them go unspoken.
This study has several strengths: it collected real data from actual patients during real doctor visits, included participants from two different clinic settings (public and private), and focused on a large, diverse group of 451 older adults. The study was straightforward in its approach—simply asking patients what they wanted to discuss—which makes the findings reliable and practical. However, the study didn’t track whether doctors actually used this information or whether it improved patient outcomes, so we don’t yet know if awareness of these topics leads to better health results
What the Results Show
When asked what they wanted to discuss with their doctors, older adults taking multiple medications had clear priorities. Diet was the most popular topic, with 20.4% of patients wanting to discuss it. This makes sense because diet affects how medications work and overall health. The second most common topic was taking fewer medications (15.3%), suggesting that many older adults feel overwhelmed by the number of pills they take. Understanding their health conditions came in third at 14.6%, indicating that patients want clearer explanations of what’s wrong and why they need their treatments.
The study also revealed important medication-related concerns. The biggest worry was about stopping or skipping medications—11.1% of patients reported doing this because of cost, side effects, or other reasons. This is significant because skipping medications can be dangerous, but it shows that cost and side effects are real barriers for patients. Another 8% of patients expressed confusion about managing medications prescribed by multiple doctors, and 5.7% had specific concerns about individual medications they were taking.
Beyond the top three topics, the study identified several other areas patients wanted to discuss. The medication concerns revealed a pattern: patients struggle with practical issues like cost and coordination between doctors, not just medical questions. This suggests that doctors need to address not just the science of medications but also the real-world challenges patients face in taking them. The fact that understanding conditions ranked third shows patients want education, not just prescriptions.
Earlier research has shown that when doctors use structured question guides during visits, patients ask more questions and feel more engaged in their care. This study builds on that by identifying which specific topics should be included in those guides. Rather than generic questions, guides can now focus on what patients actually want to discuss—diet, medication reduction, and condition understanding. This makes the guides more useful and relevant to real patients’ lives.
The study only collected data from patients at two clinics in one urban area, so the results may not apply to rural patients or different regions. The study didn’t follow up to see whether doctors actually used this information or whether it improved patient health outcomes. Additionally, the study didn’t explore why patients had these priorities or what would happen if doctors addressed these topics. The research also didn’t measure whether patients felt more satisfied or had better health results after discussing these topics
The Bottom Line
If you’re an older adult taking multiple medications, consider preparing a list before your doctor visit that includes questions about diet, concerns about your current medications, and requests for clearer explanations of your conditions. Share any concerns about medication costs or side effects—your doctor may have solutions you don’t know about. For healthcare providers, this research suggests you should proactively ask patients about diet, medication burden, and their understanding of their conditions during visits with older adults on multiple medications. (Confidence level: Moderate—based on patient preferences, though outcomes data is limited)
This research is most relevant to older adults (50+) taking multiple medications, their family members, and healthcare providers who work with this population. If you’re younger or take few medications, these findings may not apply directly to you. However, the general principle—that patients have specific topics they want to discuss—applies to everyone
You could start implementing these conversation topics at your next doctor visit. Changes in diet or medication management might show benefits within weeks to months, depending on your specific situation. Understanding your conditions better should help immediately with decision-making and medication adherence
Frequently Asked Questions
What do older adults want to talk about most at doctor appointments?
A 2026 study of 451 older adults found diet was the top topic (20.4%), followed by reducing medications (15.3%) and understanding their conditions (14.6%). These priorities can help doctors prepare more relevant conversations.
Why do older adults skip their medications?
Research shows 11.1% of older adults stop or skip medications due to cost, side effects, or other reasons. This suggests doctors need to discuss these barriers openly and explore solutions like lower-cost alternatives or dose adjustments.
How can I prepare for a better doctor visit if I take multiple medications?
Write down your top questions about diet, concerns about your medications, and areas where you need better understanding of your conditions. Bring this list to your appointment to ensure these priority topics get discussed during your visit.
What should doctors do differently when treating older adults with multiple medications?
Doctors should proactively ask about diet, medication burden, and patient understanding of their conditions rather than waiting for patients to bring these up. This 451-patient study shows these are the topics patients most want to address.
Is it normal to feel confused about medications from different doctors?
Yes—8% of older adults in this study reported confusion about managing multiple prescriptions. Ask your doctors to review all your medications together, or request a medication review appointment to clarify what each drug does and why you need it.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Before each doctor visit, use the app to log your top 3 questions or concerns you want to discuss. Track which topics you actually discussed and whether you received satisfactory answers. Over time, this helps you identify patterns in what matters most to your health
- Create a pre-visit checklist in the app with the three priority topics from this study: diet questions, medication concerns, and condition understanding. Check off which ones apply to you before your appointment, then bring this list to your visit to ensure these topics get discussed
- After each doctor visit, rate how well your top concerns were addressed (1-10 scale). Track whether you received actionable advice on diet, medication reduction, or condition understanding. Over 3-6 months, you’ll see patterns in which topics get addressed and which ones need more focus
This research identifies topics patients want to discuss but does not provide medical advice. If you’re taking multiple medications, always consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medication regimen, diet, or health routine. Do not stop taking medications without medical guidance, as this could be dangerous. This study reflects patient preferences and concerns but should not replace professional medical evaluation or treatment recommendations from your doctor.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.