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de Souza Cantão ABC, da Silva Lima TC, Fernandes MIAP, Nagendrababu V, Bastos JV, Levin L. Prevalence of dental, oral, and maxillofacial traumatic injuries among domestic violence victims: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Dent Traumatol 2024; 40 Suppl 2:33-42. [PMID: 38214027 DOI: 10.1111/edt.12922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Domestic violence (DV) encompasses a series of abusive behaviors, perpetrated in a family environment, against individuals of all ages and genders. Injuries to the head, neck, and face are frequent findings among victims of abuse, negatively impacting their quality of life. Although oral and maxillofacial injuries (OMFI) and traumatic dental injuries (TDI) are commonly diagnosed among DV victims, their prevalence is still unknown. This systematic review was aimed to assess the prevalence of OMFI and TDI among victims of DV. METHODS The protocol of the review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023424235). Literature searches were performed in eight electronic databases, up to August 7th, 2023. Observational studies published in the Latin-roman alphabet and reporting the prevalence of OMFI and/or TDI were included. The Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tool, checklist for prevalence studies, was used for quality assessment. Results were presented as qualitative and quantitative syntheses. RESULTS Seventeen studies, totaling 12,375 victims of domestic violence, were included. Meta-analyses showed an overall prevalence of 29% (95% CI: 15%-48%, I2 = 99%) and 4% (95% CI: 1%-10%, I2 = 98%) for OMFI and TDI, respectively. Higher pooled prevalence for OMFI (41%, 95% CI: 13%-46%, I2 = 99%) was demonstrated in samples with only women. OMFI was less prevalent (20%) among DV victims under 18, while TDI was lower among adults (1%). Hospital samples presented higher pooled prevalence of OMFI (32%), and forensic data from fatal victims presented higher prevalence of TDI (8%). CONCLUSION The overall prevalence of OMFI and TDI in DV victims was 29% and 4%, respectively. Women victims of DV presented higher rates of OFMI (41%) and TDI (6%).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Liran Levin
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Makaroun LK, Halaszynski JJ, Smith KA, Drake R, Amelio-Hering V, Atchison K, Dichter ME, Rosland AM, Thorpe CT, Rosen T. Screening for Elder Abuse in the Veterans Health Administration: Varied Approaches Across a National Health System. J Gen Intern Med 2024:10.1007/s11606-023-08560-2. [PMID: 38191973 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-023-08560-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elder abuse (EA) is common and has devastating health consequences yet is rarely detected by healthcare professionals. While EA screening tools exist, little is known about if and how these tools are implemented in real-world clinical settings. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has experience screening for, and resources to respond to, other forms of interpersonal violence and may provide valuable insights into approaches for EA screening. OBJECTIVE Describe EA screening practices across a national integrated healthcare system serving a large population of older adults at risk for EA. DESIGN Survey of all 139 VHA medical centers from January to August 2021. PARTICIPANTS Surveys were completed by the Social Work Chief, or delegate, at each site. MAIN MEASURES The survey assessed the presence and characteristics of EA-specific screening practices as well as general abuse/neglect screening conducted with patients of all ages, including older adults. Follow-up emails were sent to sites that reported screening requesting additional details not included in the initial survey. KEY RESULTS Overall, 130 sites (94%) responded. Among respondents, 5 (4%) reported screening older adults for EA using a previously published tool, while 6 (5%) reported screening for EA with an unstudied or locally developed tool. Forty-eight percent reported screening patients of all ages for general abuse/neglect using unstudied questions/tools, and 44% reported no EA screening at their site. Characteristics of screening programs (e.g., frequency, clinical setting, provider type) varied widely between sites, as did respondents' understanding of the definition of screening. CONCLUSIONS High variability in screening practices for abuse/neglect and lack of EA-specific screening in a system that has successfully deployed other standardized screening approaches present an important opportunity to standardize and improve EA detection practices. Lessons learned in VHA could help advance the evidence base for EA screening more broadly to increase overall detection rates for EA nationally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena K Makaroun
- VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- VA Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | | | | | - Ruth Drake
- G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | | | - Karley Atchison
- VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Melissa E Dichter
- VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- School of Social Work, Temple University Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ann-Marie Rosland
- VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Carolyn T Thorpe
- VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Tony Rosen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College/New-York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
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Gottesman E, Elman A, Rosen T. Elder Mistreatment: Emergency Department Recognition and Management. Clin Geriatr Med 2023; 39:553-573. [PMID: 37798065 DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2023.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Elder mistreatment is experienced by 5% to 15% of community-dwelling older adults each year. An emergency department (ED) encounter offers an important opportunity to identify elder mistreatment and initiate intervention. Strategies to improve detection of elder mistreatment include identifying high-risk patients; recognizing suggestive findings from the history, physical examination, imaging, and laboratory tests; and/or using screening tools. ED management of elder mistreatment includes addressing acute issues, maximizing the patient's safety, and reporting to the authorities when appropriate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Gottesman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alyssa Elman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tony Rosen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
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Nemati-Vakilabad R, Khalili Z, Ghanbari-Afra L, Mirzaei A. The prevalence of elder abuse and risk factors: a cross-sectional study of community older adults. BMC Geriatr 2023; 23:616. [PMID: 37777720 PMCID: PMC10544121 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-04307-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The old people population is increasing worldwide. Along with their increasing population, an increase in elder abuse cases is predicted. Elder abuse is a neglected problem, and many cases go unreported. This study was conducted to identify types of elder abuse and examine associated risk factors. METHODS This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 500 older people in Ardabil (northwestern Iran). Data was collected over three months, from June to September 2020. Data was collected using a demographic information form and the Domestic Elder Abuse questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 22). Logistic regression was used to identify factors related to elder abuse. RESULTS The results showed that out of the 500 participants, 258 (51.6%) were male, and 242 (48.2%) were female. Among the 500 participants, 377 individuals (75/4%) reported experiencing at least one type of abuse in the past year. The highest rate of elder abuse was observed for emotional neglect (47.2%) and psychological abuse (40.8%), while the lowest rate was measured for rejection (15.4%) and physical abuse (12.4%). The results indicated that elder abuse was significantly associated with chronic illness (OR = 0.601, 95% CI: 0.391-0.922) and having 1-4 children (OR = 1.275, 95% CI: 1.137-1.430). CONCLUSION Considering the high level of elder abuse and its dangerous effects on the quality of life for older people, it is essential to develop appropriate programs to increase awareness among older people and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Nemati-Vakilabad
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, 141973317, Iran
| | - Zahra Khalili
- Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.
| | - Leila Ghanbari-Afra
- Trauma Nursing Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Alireza Mirzaei
- Department of Emergency Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
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Graça H, Frazão SL, Magalhães T, Vieira-Pinto P, Gomes JC, Taveira-Gomes T. Health Conditions in Older Adults Suspected of Being Maltreated: A 20-Year Real-World Study. J Clin Med 2023; 12:5247. [PMID: 37629290 PMCID: PMC10455491 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12165247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Older adult maltreatment (OAM) is a global problem that has attracted increasing attention due to the ageing population and its severe impact on victim health. Thus, this study aims to analyse the prevalence of certain health conditions in people ≥ 60 years old whom physicians from a local healthcare unit suspected to be victims of maltreatment. The specific objectives are to determine the prevalence rates of health-related risk factors, traumatic injuries and intoxications, mental disorders, and physical disorders. We conducted a real-world, retrospective, observational, and cross-sectional study based on secondary data analyses of electronic health records and healthcare registers of patients at the Local Healthcare Unit of Matosinhos (2001-2021). Information was obtained based on codes from the International Classification of Diseases, codes from the International Classification of Primary Care, and clinical notes (according to previously defined keywords). We identified 3092 suspected victims of OAM, representing 4.5% of the total population analysed. This prevalence is lower than the known rates. We also found that some health risk factors, traumatic injuries and intoxications, mental health disorders, and physical disorders presented higher rates in the suspected victims than among the total population. In this age group, we cannot assume that these health problems are only related to a possible current victimisation process; they could also be associated with adverse childhood experiences or intimate partner violence, among other forms of violence, all of which can lead to cumulative effects on the victim's health. This evidence increases healthcare providers' responsibility in detecting and reporting all cases of suspected maltreatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Graça
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; (H.G.); (S.L.F.)
| | - Sofia Lalanda Frazão
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; (H.G.); (S.L.F.)
- National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Largo da Sé Nova, 3000-231 Coimbra, Portugal
- Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Teresa Magalhães
- MTG Research and Development Lab, 4200-604 Porto, Portugal; (T.M.); (T.T.-G.)
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS@RISE), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Toxicology Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences, Advanced Polytechnic and University Cooperative (CESPU), CRL, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
| | - Paulo Vieira-Pinto
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; (H.G.); (S.L.F.)
- FOREN—Forensic Science Experts, 1400-136 Lisboa, Portugal
- Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa (FCHS-UFP), 4249-004 Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Costa Gomes
- Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
- USF Caravela, Local Healthcare Unit of Matosinhos, Rua da Lagoa, 4460-352 Senhora da Hora, Portugal
| | - Tiago Taveira-Gomes
- MTG Research and Development Lab, 4200-604 Porto, Portugal; (T.M.); (T.T.-G.)
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS@RISE), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa (FCS-UFP), 4249-004 Porto, Portugal
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Rosen T, Rippon B, Elman A, Gogia K, Chansakul A, Chang ES, Hancock DW, Bloemen EM, Clark S, LoFaso VM. Mechanisms and weapons in physical elder abuse injuries: Findings from legally adjudicated cases. Injury 2023; 54:110845. [PMID: 37296012 PMCID: PMC10527085 DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2023.110845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Elder abuse is common, but many characteristics have not been well-described, including injury mechanisms and weapons in physical abuse. Better understanding of these may improve identification of elder abuse among purportedly unintentional injuries. Our goal was to describe mechanisms of injury and weapons used and their relation to injury patterns. METHODS We partnered with District Attorney's offices in 3 counties and systematically examined medical, police, and legal records from 164 successfully prosecuted physical abuse cases of victims aged ≥60 from 2001 to 2014. RESULTS Victims sustained 680 injuries (mean 4.1, median 2.0, range 1-35). Most common mechanisms were: blunt assault with hand/fist (44.5%), push/shove, fall during altercation (27.4%), and blunt assault with object (15.2%). Perpetrators more commonly used body parts as weapons (72.6%) than objects (23.8%). Most commonly used body parts were: open hands (55.5% of victims sustaining injuries from body parts), closed fists (53.8%), and feet (16.0%). Most commonly used objects were: knives (35.9% of victims sustaining injuries from objects) and telephones (10.3%). The most frequent mechanism/injury location pair was maxillofacial/dental/neck injury by blunt assault with hand/fist (20.0% of all injuries). The most frequent mechanism/injury type pair was bruising by blunt assault with hand/fist (15.1% of all injuries). Blunt assault with hand/fist injury was positively associated with victim female sex (OR: 2.27, CI: [1.08 - 4.95]; p = 0.031), while blunt assault with object mechanisms was inversely associated with victim female sex (OR: 0.32, CI: [0.12 - 0.81]; p = 0.017). CONCLUSION Physical elder abuse victims are more commonly assaulted with an abuser's body part than an object, and the mechanisms and weapons used impact patterns of injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Rosen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College / NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, 525 East 68th Street, Room M130, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
| | - Brady Rippon
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, 402 E 67th Street, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alyssa Elman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College / NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, 525 East 68th Street, Room M130, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Kriti Gogia
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College / NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, 525 East 68th Street, Room M130, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Aisara Chansakul
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College / NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, 525 East 68th Street, Room M130, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - E-Shien Chang
- Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, 525 East 68th Street, Baker 14, Weill Cornell Medical College / NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - David W Hancock
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College / NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, 525 East 68th Street, Room M130, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Bloemen
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12631 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Sunday Clark
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College / NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, 525 East 68th Street, Room M130, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Veronica M LoFaso
- Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, 525 East 68th Street, Baker 14, Weill Cornell Medical College / NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
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Lee M, Chansakul A, Rotman JA, Rosen A. Elder Abuse. Radiol Clin North Am 2023; 61:65-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rcl.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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8
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Toya M, Minegishi S, Utsuno H, Ohta J, Namiki S, Unuma K, Uemura K, Sakurada K. Forensic Characteristics of Physical Elder Abuse and Current Status and Issues of Collaboration between Forensic Medicine Departments and Related Institutions in Japan. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15382. [PMID: 36430103 PMCID: PMC9692923 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192215382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This study sought to clarify the characteristics and trends of physical elder abuse and the status of collaboration between forensic medicine departments and related institutions in Japan. Questionnaires were sent to 82 forensic medicine departments and 2857 institutions randomly selected from hospitals, municipalities and public community general support centers. The survey period was February to June 2021, including an extension period for collection. Responses from 675 facilities were analyzed. The most common finding in cases of physical elder abuse at forensic medicine departments was subcutaneous hemorrhage on the head (85.7%), with mixed old and new injuries most commonly observed in the lower limbs (70%). There were few cases in which there was collaboration between forensic medicine departments and other institutions. Among the issues identified, there is a need to provide related institutions with information obtained in forensic medicine departments. A new collaboration system is needed to achieve this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiko Toya
- Department of Forensic Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Saki Minegishi
- Department of Forensic Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Hajime Utsuno
- Department of Forensic Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Jun Ohta
- Department of Forensic Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Shuuji Namiki
- Department of Forensic Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Kana Unuma
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Koichi Uemura
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Koichi Sakurada
- Department of Forensic Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
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Badawy M, Solomon N, Elsayes KM, Soliman M, Diaz-Marchan P, Succi MD, Pourvaziri A, Lev MH, Mellnick VM, Gomez-Cintron A, Revzin MV. Nonaccidental Injury in the Elderly: What Radiologists Need to Know. Radiographics 2022; 42:1358-1376. [PMID: 35802501 DOI: 10.1148/rg.220017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Elder abuse may result in serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences and can be life threatening. Over the past decade, attention to elder abuse has increased owing to its high prevalence, with one in six people aged 60 years and older experiencing some form of abuse worldwide. Despite this, the detection and reporting rates remain relatively low. While diagnostic imaging is considered critical in detection of child abuse, it is relatively underused in elder abuse. The authors discuss barriers to use of imaging for investigation and diagnosis of elder abuse, including lack of training, comorbidities present in this vulnerable population, and lack of communication among the intra- and interdisciplinary care providers. Moreover, imaging features that should raise clinical concern for elder abuse are reviewed, including certain types of fractures (eg, posterior rib), characteristic soft-tissue and organ injuries (eg, shoulder dislocation), and cases in which the reported mechanism of injury is inconsistent with the imaging findings. As most findings suggesting elder abuse are initially discovered at radiography and CT, the authors focus mainly on use of those modalities. This review also compares and contrasts elder abuse with child abuse. Empowered with knowledge of elderly victims' risk factors, classic perpetrator characteristics, and correlative imaging findings, radiologists should be able to identify potential abuse in elderly patients presenting for medical attention. Future recommendations for research studies and clinical workflow to increase radiologists' awareness of and participation in elder abuse detection are also presented. An invited commentary by Jubanyik and Gettel is available online. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ©RSNA, 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Badawy
- From the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St, Houston, TX 77030 (M.B., K.M.E.); Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Conn (N.S., M.V.R.); Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill (M.S.); Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex (P.D.M.); Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (M.D.S., A.P., M.H.L.); Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo (V.M.M.); and Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex (A.G.C.)
| | - Nadia Solomon
- From the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St, Houston, TX 77030 (M.B., K.M.E.); Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Conn (N.S., M.V.R.); Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill (M.S.); Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex (P.D.M.); Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (M.D.S., A.P., M.H.L.); Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo (V.M.M.); and Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex (A.G.C.)
| | - Khaled M Elsayes
- From the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St, Houston, TX 77030 (M.B., K.M.E.); Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Conn (N.S., M.V.R.); Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill (M.S.); Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex (P.D.M.); Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (M.D.S., A.P., M.H.L.); Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo (V.M.M.); and Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex (A.G.C.)
| | - Moataz Soliman
- From the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St, Houston, TX 77030 (M.B., K.M.E.); Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Conn (N.S., M.V.R.); Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill (M.S.); Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex (P.D.M.); Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (M.D.S., A.P., M.H.L.); Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo (V.M.M.); and Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex (A.G.C.)
| | - Pedro Diaz-Marchan
- From the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St, Houston, TX 77030 (M.B., K.M.E.); Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Conn (N.S., M.V.R.); Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill (M.S.); Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex (P.D.M.); Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (M.D.S., A.P., M.H.L.); Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo (V.M.M.); and Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex (A.G.C.)
| | - Marc D Succi
- From the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St, Houston, TX 77030 (M.B., K.M.E.); Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Conn (N.S., M.V.R.); Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill (M.S.); Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex (P.D.M.); Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (M.D.S., A.P., M.H.L.); Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo (V.M.M.); and Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex (A.G.C.)
| | - Ali Pourvaziri
- From the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St, Houston, TX 77030 (M.B., K.M.E.); Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Conn (N.S., M.V.R.); Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill (M.S.); Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex (P.D.M.); Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (M.D.S., A.P., M.H.L.); Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo (V.M.M.); and Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex (A.G.C.)
| | - Michael H Lev
- From the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St, Houston, TX 77030 (M.B., K.M.E.); Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Conn (N.S., M.V.R.); Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill (M.S.); Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex (P.D.M.); Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (M.D.S., A.P., M.H.L.); Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo (V.M.M.); and Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex (A.G.C.)
| | - Vincent M Mellnick
- From the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St, Houston, TX 77030 (M.B., K.M.E.); Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Conn (N.S., M.V.R.); Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill (M.S.); Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex (P.D.M.); Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (M.D.S., A.P., M.H.L.); Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo (V.M.M.); and Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex (A.G.C.)
| | - Angel Gomez-Cintron
- From the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St, Houston, TX 77030 (M.B., K.M.E.); Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Conn (N.S., M.V.R.); Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill (M.S.); Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex (P.D.M.); Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (M.D.S., A.P., M.H.L.); Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo (V.M.M.); and Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex (A.G.C.)
| | - Margarita V Revzin
- From the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St, Houston, TX 77030 (M.B., K.M.E.); Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Conn (N.S., M.V.R.); Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill (M.S.); Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex (P.D.M.); Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (M.D.S., A.P., M.H.L.); Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo (V.M.M.); and Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex (A.G.C.)
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Types, characteristics and anatomic location of physical signs in elder abuse: a systematic review : Awareness and recognition of injury patterns. Eur Geriatr Med 2021; 13:53-85. [PMID: 34514555 PMCID: PMC8860961 DOI: 10.1007/s41999-021-00550-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Aim Identify types, characteristics and anatomic location of physical signs in elder abuse. Findings Physical signs in elder abuse are most common bruises and anatomically predominantly located on the head, face/maxillofacial area, neck, upper extremities and torso. Message Increase knowledge on physical signs in elder abuse so as to enhance timely detection and intervention. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41999-021-00550-z. Purpose Elder abuse is a worldwide problem with serious consequences for individuals and society. The recognition of elder abuse is complex due to a lack of awareness and knowledge. In this systematic review, types, characteristics and anatomic location of physical signs in elder abuse were identified. Methods Databases of MEDLINE, COCHRANE, EMBASE and CINAHL were searched. The publication dates ranged from March 2005 to July 2020. In addition to the electronic searches, the reference lists and citing of included articles were hand-searched to identify additional relevant studies. The quality of descriptive and mixed-methods studies was assessed. Results The most commonly described physical signs in elder abuse were bruises. The characteristics of physical signs can be categorized into size, shape and distribution. Physical signs were anatomically predominantly located on the head, face/maxillofacial area (including eyes, ears and dental area), neck, upper extremities and torso (especially posterior). Physical signs related to sexual elder abuse were mostly located in the genital and perianal area and often accompanied by a significant amount of injury to non-genital parts of the body, especially the area of the head, arms and medial aspect of the thigh. Conclusions Most common types, characteristics and anatomic location of physical signs in elder abuse were identified. To enhance (early) detection of physical signs in elder abuse, it is necessary to invest in (more) in-depth education and to include expertise from a forensic physician or forensic nurse in multidisciplinary team consultations. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41999-021-00550-z.
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11
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Ben Natan M, Steinfeld Y, Yonai Y, Berkovich Y. Retrospective study of older patient characteristics that increase the likelihood that a fracture was associated with abuse. J Elder Abuse Negl 2021; 33:221-229. [PMID: 34096472 DOI: 10.1080/08946566.2021.1934769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Searching for clinical manifestations of elder abuse may help healthcare professionals identify cases of elder abuse. The aim of the present study was to explore characteristics of older patients with fractures that increase the likelihood that the fracture was associated with abuse. This is a retrospective chart review study of 1,000 patients aged 65 and older who presented to an emergency department in northern-central Israel with a fracture during 2019. The chart review included participant characteristics - sociodemographic data, medical data, data regarding the fracture, and data on the presence of forensic markers of elder abuse in individual patients. Descriptive statistics and regression models were used for the analyses. Older age, presence of dementia, and hand and facial fractures were associated with the presence of forensic markers, and were also found to predict having at least one forensic factor. This study provides further support for the creation of clinical guidelines for identification of elder abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merav Ben Natan
- Pat Matthews Academic School of Nursing, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel
| | - Yaniv Steinfeld
- The Orthopedics B Department, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel
| | - Yaniv Yonai
- The Orthopedics B Department, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel
| | - Yaron Berkovich
- The Orthopedics B Department, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel
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12
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Colleter R, Bataille CP, Dabernat H, Pichot D, Hamon P, Duchesne S, Labaune-Jean F, Jean S, Le Cloirec G, Milano S, Trost M, Steinbrenner S, Marchal M, Guilbeau-Frugier C, Telmon N, Crubézy É, Jaouen K. The last battle of Anne of Brittany: Solving mass grave through an interdisciplinary approach (paleopathology, biological anthropology, history, multiple isotopes and radiocarbon dating). PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248086. [PMID: 33951047 PMCID: PMC8099129 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Mass graves are usually key historical markers with strong incentive for archeological investigations. The identification of individuals buried in mass graves has long benefitted from traditional historical, archaeological, anthropological and paleopathological techniques. The addition of novel methods including genetic, genomic and isotopic geochemistry have renewed interest in solving unidentified mass graves. In this study, we demonstrate that the combined use of these techniques allows the identification of the individuals found in two Breton historical mass graves, where one method alone would not have revealed the importance of this discovery. The skeletons likely belong to soldiers from the two enemy armies who fought during a major event of Breton history: the siege of Rennes in 1491, which ended by the wedding of the Duchess of Brittany with the King of France and signaled the end of the independence of the region. Our study highlights the value of interdisciplinary approaches with a particular emphasis on increasingly accurate isotopic markers. The development of the sulfur isoscape and testing of the triple isotope geographic assignment are detailed in a companion paper [13].
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Affiliation(s)
- Rozenn Colleter
- INRAP (Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives), Cesson-Sévigné, France
- CNRS, CAGT, UMR 5288, Université Paul Sabatier, 31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Clément P. Bataille
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Henri Dabernat
- CNRS, CAGT, UMR 5288, Université Paul Sabatier, 31000, Toulouse, France
| | | | | | - Sylvie Duchesne
- INRAP (Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives), Cesson-Sévigné, France
- CNRS, CAGT, UMR 5288, Université Paul Sabatier, 31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Françoise Labaune-Jean
- INRAP (Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives), Cesson-Sévigné, France
- CNRS, CReAAH, UMR 6566, Rennes, France
| | - Stéphane Jean
- INRAP (Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives), Cesson-Sévigné, France
| | - Gaétan Le Cloirec
- INRAP (Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives), Cesson-Sévigné, France
- CNRS, CReAAH, UMR 6566, Rennes, France
| | - Stefania Milano
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Human Evolution, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Manuel Trost
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Human Evolution, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sven Steinbrenner
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Human Evolution, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Marine Marchal
- CNRS, CAGT, UMR 5288, Université Paul Sabatier, 31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Céline Guilbeau-Frugier
- I2MC, Université de Toulouse, INSERM U1048, 31432, Toulouse, France
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Faculté de Médecine Rangueil, CMEAB, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Norbert Telmon
- CNRS, CAGT, UMR 5288, Université Paul Sabatier, 31000, Toulouse, France
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Éric Crubézy
- CNRS, CAGT, UMR 5288, Université Paul Sabatier, 31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Klervia Jaouen
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Human Evolution, Leipzig, Germany
- CNRS, GET UMR 5563, Observatoire Midi Pyrénées, Toulouse, France
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13
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Bloemen EM, Rosen T, Lindberg DM, Krugman RD. How Experiences of Child Abuse Pediatricians and Lessons Learned May Inform Health Care Providers Focused on Improving Elder Abuse Geriatrics Clinical Practice and Research. JOURNAL OF FAMILY VIOLENCE 2021; 36:389-398. [PMID: 34121804 PMCID: PMC8189565 DOI: 10.1007/s10896-020-00143-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The experience of physicians and other health care providers in child abuse pediatrics in the last six decades includes successes and failures, which can offer critical insights to inform the growing field of health care providers focusing on elder abuse clinical practice and research. We identify and describe in detail relevant lessons learned, including balancing an urgent call to action with a need for robust evidence to support clinical conclusions. We discuss solutions to research challenges, including the lack of a uniform gold standard for abuse diagnosis and how to ethically recruit subjects who may have cognitive impairment and also be crime victims. We offer recommendations on recruiting and training a specialized health care workforce. We make suggestions for health care providers about how to navigate the legal world including issues with expert testimony and also how to participate in policymaking and development of rational systems. We emphasize the importance of developing and supporting partnerships within the field, with allied fields inside and outside medicine, and internationally. We also highlight the value of connecting researchers and clinicians focused on different types of family violence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M. Bloemen
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, 13001 E 17th Pl, Aurora, CO 80045, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Tony Rosen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine / NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, 525 E. 68 St., Room M130, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Daniel M. Lindberg
- The Kempe Center for the Prevention & Treatment of Child Abuse & Neglect, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12401 E. 17th Ave. Mailstop B-215, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Richard D. Krugman
- The Kempe Center for the Prevention & Treatment of Child Abuse & Neglect, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12401 E. 17th Ave. Mailstop B-215, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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14
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Rosen T, Bao Y, Zhang Y, Clark S, Wen K, Elman A, Jeng P, Bloemen E, Lindberg D, Krugman R, Campbell J, Bachman R, Fulmer T, Pillemer K, Lachs M. Identifying patterns of health care utilisation among physical elder abuse victims using Medicare data and legally adjudicated cases: protocol for case-control study using data linkage and machine learning. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e044768. [PMID: 33550264 PMCID: PMC7925867 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Physical elder abuse is common and has serious health consequences but is under-recognised and under-reported. As assessment by healthcare providers may represent the only contact outside family for many older adults, clinicians have a unique opportunity to identify suspected abuse and initiate intervention. Preliminary research suggests elder abuse victims may have different patterns of healthcare utilisation than other older adults, with increased rates of emergency department use, hospitalisation and nursing home placement. Little is known, however, about the patterns of this increased utilisation and associated costs. To help fill this gap, we describe here the protocol for a study exploring patterns of healthcare utilisation and associated costs for known physical elder abuse victims compared with non-victims. METHODS AND ANALYSIS We hypothesise that various aspects of healthcare utilisation are differentially affected by physical elder abuse victimisation, increasing ED/hospital utilisation and reducing outpatient/primary care utilisation. We will obtain Medicare claims data for a series of well-characterised, legally adjudicated cases of physical elder abuse to examine victims' healthcare utilisation before and after the date of abuse detection. We will also compare these physical elder abuse victims to a matched comparison group of non-victimised older adults using Medicare claims. We will use machine learning approaches to extend our ability to identify patterns suggestive of potential physical elder abuse exposure. Describing unique patterns and associated costs of healthcare utilisation among elder abuse victims may improve the ability of healthcare providers to identify and, ultimately, intervene and prevent victimisation. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This project has been reviewed and approved by the Weill Cornell Medicine Institutional Review Board, protocol #1807019417, with initial approval on 1 August 2018. We aim to disseminate our results in peer-reviewed journals at national and international conferences and among interested patient groups and the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Rosen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yuhua Bao
- Department of Health Policy & Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yiye Zhang
- Department of Health Policy & Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sunday Clark
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Katherine Wen
- Department of Policy Analysis and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Alyssa Elman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Philip Jeng
- Department of Health Policy & Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Elizabeth Bloemen
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Daniel Lindberg
- The Kempe Center for the Prevention & Treatment of Child Abuse & Neglect, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Richard Krugman
- The Kempe Center for the Prevention & Treatment of Child Abuse & Neglect, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Jacquelyn Campbell
- John Hopkins University School of Nursing, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ronet Bachman
- Department of Criminology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Terry Fulmer
- John A Hartford Foundation, New York, New York, USA
| | - Karl Pillemer
- Department of Policy Analysis and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Mark Lachs
- Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
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15
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Rosen T, LoFaso VM, Bloemen EM, Clark S, McCarthy TJ, Reisig C, Gogia K, Elman A, Markarian A, Flomenbaum NE, Sharma R, Lachs MS. Identifying Injury Patterns Associated With Physical Elder Abuse: Analysis of Legally Adjudicated Cases. Ann Emerg Med 2020; 76:266-276. [PMID: 32534832 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2020.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE Elder abuse is common and has serious health consequences but is underrecognized by health care providers. An important reason for this is difficulty in distinguishing between elder abuse and unintentional trauma. Our goal was to identify injury patterns associated with physical elder abuse in comparison with those of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with unintentional falls. METHODS We partnered with a large, urban district attorney's office and examined medical, police, and legal records from successfully prosecuted cases of physical abuse of victims aged 60 years or older from 2001 to 2014. RESULTS We prospectively enrolled patients who presented to a large, urban, academic ED after an unintentional fall. We matched 78 cases of elder abuse with visible injuries to 78 unintentional falls. Physical abuse victims were significantly more likely than unintentional fallers to have bruising (78% versus 54%) and injuries on the maxillofacial, dental, and neck area (67% versus 28%). Abuse victims were less likely to have fractures (8% versus 22%) or lower extremity injuries (9% versus 41%). Abuse victims were more likely to have maxillofacial, dental, or neck injuries combined with no upper and lower extremity injuries (50% versus 8%). Examining precise injury locations yielded additional differences, with physical elder abuse victims more likely to have injuries to the left cheek or zygoma (22% versus 3%) or on the neck (15% versus 0%) or ear (6% versus 0%). CONCLUSION Specific, clinically identifiable differences may exist between unintentional injuries and those from physical elder abuse. This includes specific injury patterns that infrequently occur unintentionally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Rosen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY.
| | - Veronica M LoFaso
- Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Weill Cornell Medicine/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
| | | | - Sunday Clark
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
| | | | - Christopher Reisig
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
| | - Kriti Gogia
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
| | - Alyssa Elman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
| | - Arlene Markarian
- Elder Abuse Unit, King's County District Attorney's Office, Brooklyn, NY
| | - Neal E Flomenbaum
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
| | - Rahul Sharma
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
| | - Mark S Lachs
- Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Weill Cornell Medicine/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
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16
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Rohringer TJ, Rosen TE, Lee MR, Sagar P, Murphy KJ. Can diagnostic imaging help improve elder abuse detection? Br J Radiol 2020; 93:20190632. [PMID: 32108517 PMCID: PMC10993220 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20190632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Elder abuse is an underdetected, under-reported issue with severe consequences. Its detection presents unique challenges based on characteristics of this vulnerable population, including cognitive impairment, age-related deconditioning, and an increased number of co-morbidities, all of which predispose to increase vulnerability to injury. While radiologists play a critical role in detection of child abuse, this role is currently not paralleled in detection of elder abuse. We conducted a thorough review of the literature using MEDLINE to describe the current knowledge on injury patterns and injury findings seen in elder abuse, as well as barriers to and recommendations for an increased role of diagnostic imaging in elder abuse detection. Barriers limiting the role of radiologists include lack of training and paucity of rigorous systematic research delineating distinctive imaging findings for physical elder abuse. We outline the current ways in which imaging can help raise clinical suspicion for elder abuse, including inconsistencies between purported mechanism of injury and imaging findings, injury location, multiple injuries at differing stages of healing, and particular patterns of injury likely to be intentionally inflicted. We additionally outline the mechanism by which medical education and clinical workflow may be modified to increase the role for imaging and radiologist participation in detecting abuse in older adult patients, and identify potential future directions for further systematic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taryn J Rohringer
- University of Toronto, 1 King’s College
Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8,
Canada
| | - Tony E Rosen
- Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell
Medical Center, 525 E 68 Street, New York, NY,
10065, USA
| | - Mihan R Lee
- Diagnostic Radiologist at Weill Cornell Medical Center, 525 E
68 street, New York, NY, 10065,
USA
| | - Pallavi Sagar
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55
Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114,
USA
| | - Kieran J Murphy
- Professor of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, University
Health Network, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto,
ON M5T 2S8, Canada
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17
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Elder Abuse in the Out-of-Hospital and Emergency Department Settings: A Scoping Review. Ann Emerg Med 2020; 75:181-191. [PMID: 31959308 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2019.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This scoping review aimed to synthesize the available evidence on the epidemiology, patient- and caregiver-associated factors, clinical characteristics, screening tools, prevention, interventions, and perspectives of health care professionals in regard to elder abuse in the out-of-hospital or emergency department (ED) setting. Literature search was performed with MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library. Studies were eligible if they were observational or experimental and reported on elder abuse in the out-of-hospital or ED setting. A qualitative approach, performed independently by 2 reviewers, was used to synthesize and report the findings. A total of 413 citations were retrieved, from which 55 studies published between 1988 and 2019 were included. The prevalence of elder abuse reported during the ED visit was lower than reported in the community. The most commonly detected type of elder abuse was neglect, and then physical abuse. The following factors were more common in identified cases of elder abuse: female sex, cognitive impairment, functional disability, frailty, social isolation, and lower socioeconomic status. Psychiatric and substance use disorders were more common among victims and their caregivers. Screening tools have been proposed, but multicenter validation and influence of screening on patient-important outcomes were lacking. Health care professionals reported being poorly trained and acknowledged numerous barriers when caring for potential victims. There is insufficient knowledge, limited training, and a poorly organized system in place for elder abuse in the out-of-hospital and ED settings. Studies on the processes and effects of screening and interventions are required to improve care of this vulnerable population.
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18
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Kavak RP, Özdemir M. Radiological appearance of physical elder abuse. Eur Geriatr Med 2019; 10:871-878. [DOI: 10.1007/s41999-019-00246-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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19
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Porter A, Montgomery CO, Montgomery BE, Eastin C, Boyette J, Snead G. Intimate Partner Violence-Related Fractures in the United States: An 8 Year Review. JOURNAL OF FAMILY VIOLENCE 2019; 34:601-609. [PMID: 32595265 PMCID: PMC7318917 DOI: 10.1007/s10896-018-0007-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fractures associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) are devastating injuries that can have lifelong implications. With exception to the facial region, there are very limited epidemiological reports describing the types and location of IPV-related fractures. The objective of this study is to review a national database and describe trends associated with IPV-related fractures. METHODS An analysis of all adults was performed using the National Trauma Data Bank from 2007 through 2014.Data including demographics, age, location of fracture, and drug/alcohol use were described and analyzed. FINDINGS There were 1,352 records identified where the patient was diagnosed with an IPV-related fracture. Women accounted for 83% of the population and the mean age was 37.5 years. Approximately 30% of the population was diagnosed with vertebral, trunk, and rib fractures. Variances among fracture location were observed across age groups. Facial fractures were recorded more in the younger population (18-39 years) when compared to other age groups (40-59 years; 60+ years), p<0.0001. Alternatively, rib and femur fractures were more common among survivors aged 60+ when compared to the younger age groups, p<0.0001. INTERPRETATION The ability to identify and respond to survivors of IPV in the healthcare setting is critically important. While facial fractures are common, they are not the only type of fractures that are seen. In many cases, healthcare professionals are the first line of defense in identifying suspected IPV cases. The findings of this paper build upon existing literature while also describing IPV-related fractures across the age spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin Porter
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health
- Arkansas Department of Health
| | | | - Brooke E. Montgomery
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health
| | - Carly Eastin
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Medicine
| | - Jennings Boyette
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Medicine
| | - Gregory Snead
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Medicine
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20
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Forero Borda LM, Hoyos Porto SDJ, Buitrago Martínez V, Heredia Ramírez RA. Maltrato a las personas mayores: una revisión narrativa. UNIVERSITAS MÉDICA 2019. [DOI: 10.11144/javeriana.umed60-4.malt] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
El maltrato a las personas mayores es un tema de interés creciente, tanto así que se considera un problema de salud pública. Hay particularidades que hacen del entorno colombiano un ambiente propicio para generar situaciones de maltrato: la exposición a la “violencia a gran escala”, la diferencia de género y el cambio de la pirámide poblacional. Según el estudio SABE Colombia, el 12,9 % de las personas mayores informó haber sufrido maltrato, del cual el más común es el psicológico, seguido por el físico, el financiero y el sexual. A pesar de que el Estado reconoce al adulto mayor como “sujeto de especial protección”, aún hay desconocimiento por parte de los profesionales de la salud a la hora de enfrentar estos casos. Este debería ser un tema de obligatoriedad moral, por lo que se debe abordar a profundidad para así identificarlo oportunamente y proponer estrategias de prevención de una manera contextualizada. Esta revisión de la literatura tiene por objetivos sintetizar la información epidemiológica disponible, los factores de riesgo y las estrategias de evaluación y plantear las rutas de atención idóneas asentadas en los aspectos legales alrededor del maltrato hacia los ancianos en Colombia.
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Tamang MK, Yadav UN, Hosseinzadeh H, Kafle B, Paudel G, Khatiwada S, Sekaran VC. Nutritional assessment and factors associated with malnutrition among the elderly population of Nepal: a cross-sectional study. BMC Res Notes 2019; 12:246. [PMID: 31039794 PMCID: PMC6492417 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-019-4282-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives This study aimed at assessing the nutritional status among the elderly population and factors associated with malnutrition in the community setting in rural Nepal. Results Out of 339 participants, 24.8% (95% CI 20.21–29.30) fell into the normal nutritional status range; 49.6% (95% CI 44.29–54.91) were at risk for malnutrition while 24.8% (95% CI 20.21–29.30) were in the malnourished range, based on Mini Nutritional Assessment scores. Our findings revealed that belonging to a Dalit community, being unemployed, having experience of any form of mistreatment, lack of physical exercise, experiencing problems with concentration in past 30 days and taking medication for more than one co-morbidity was significantly associated with the malnutrition status of the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Kumar Tamang
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Central Campus of Technology, Tribhuvan University, Dharan, Nepal
| | - Uday Narayan Yadav
- Forum for Health Research and Development, Dharan, Nepal. .,School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Hassan Hosseinzadeh
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Bharat Kafle
- Central Department of Population Studies, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Bagmati, Nepal
| | - Girish Paudel
- Forum for Health Research and Development, Dharan, Nepal
| | - Saroj Khatiwada
- School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Kogan AC, Rosen T, Navarro A, Homeier D, Chennapan K, Mosqueda L. Developing the Geriatric Injury Documentation Tool (Geri-IDT) to Improve Documentation of Physical Findings in Injured Older Adults. J Gen Intern Med 2019; 34:567-574. [PMID: 30761452 PMCID: PMC6445929 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-019-04844-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Standardization in tools and documentation of child abuse and intimate partner violence have proven helpful in completely documenting injuries and suspected abuse among these populations. Similar tools do not yet exist for older adults and elder abuse. OBJECTIVE To (1) use insights from experts to develop a tool to assist clinicians in appropriately and completely documenting physical findings in injured older adults for potential future forensic investigation of abuse or neglect and (2) to assess the feasibility of incorporating this tool into clinical practice. DESIGN Two-phase, exploratory qualitative study. Phase 1: individual interviews with elder abuse experts from various specialties in medicine and criminal justice. Phase 2: focus groups with anticipated end users of the tool. PARTICIPANTS Phase 1 telephone-based key informant interviews were conducted with 11 elder abuse experts (2 detectives, 3 prosecutors, 1 forensic pathologist, 2 geriatricians, and 3 emergency medicine physicians). Phase 2 focus groups were conducted among emergency medicine (n = 10) and primary care (n = 8) providers. APPROACH Key informant interviews were conducted telephonically while the two focus groups were held in-person at an emergency medicine site in New York, NY, and a primary care site in Los Angeles, CA. KEY RESULTS Experts agreed that medical providers' documentation of geriatric injuries is usually inadequate for investigating alleged elder abuse/neglect. They highlighted elements needed for forensic investigation: initial appearance before treatment is initiated, complete head-to-toe evaluation, documentation of all injuries (even minor ones), and documentation of pertinent negatives. Several noted the value of photographs to supplement written documentation. End users identified practical challenges to utilizing a tool, including the burden of additional or parallel documentation in a busy clinical setting, and how to integrate it into existing electronic medical records. CONCLUSION A practical tool to improve medical documentation of geriatric injuries for potential forensic use would be valuable. Practical challenges to utilization must be overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Coulourides Kogan
- Department of Family Medicine and Geriatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Tony Rosen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, NY, USA
| | - Adria Navarro
- Department of Family Medicine and Geriatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Diana Homeier
- Department of Family Medicine and Geriatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- LAC+USC Geriatric Clinic and Adult Protection Team, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Krithika Chennapan
- Department of Family Medicine and Geriatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Laura Mosqueda
- Department of Family Medicine and Geriatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Adserias-Garriga J. A review of forensic analysis of dental and maxillofacial skeletal trauma. Forensic Sci Int 2019; 299:80-88. [PMID: 30978522 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Dental and maxillofacial trauma analysis in the forensic context, includes assessment of both living and deceased persons. It is required in all cases where human abuse is suspected and where signs of skeletal trauma are detected in human remains. Skeletal trauma refers to the damage inflicted to bone, teeth and other hard tissues. An accurate analysis of the dental and maxillofacial trauma is achieved by the assessment of the remains by forensic pathologists, anthropologists and odontologists. This paper aims to review dental and maxillofacial skeletal trauma in the scope of forensic science. High-velocity projectile, sharp force, blunt force, and thermal trauma showing different traits in maxillofacial structures are discussed. Regarding non-fatal physical abuse, head and neck are the most frequently injured areas, resulting in fractures, contusions, burns and traumatic dental injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Adserias-Garriga
- Forensic Anthropology Center, Texas State University, 601 University Dr, San Marcos, TX, 78666, United States.
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Lee M, Rosen T, Murphy K, Sagar P. A new role for imaging in the diagnosis of physical elder abuse: results of a qualitative study with radiologists and frontline providers. J Elder Abuse Negl 2019; 31:163-180. [PMID: 30741114 DOI: 10.1080/08946566.2019.1573160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric radiologists play a key role in the detection of child abuse through the identification of characteristic injury patterns. Emergency radiologists have the potential to play an equally important role in the detection of elder physical abuse; however, they currently play little to no part in this effort. We examine the reasons behind this limited role, and potential strategies to expand it, by interviewing attending faculty from Emergency Radiology, Geriatrics, Emergency Medicine, Pediatric Radiology, and Pediatrics. Our interviews revealed that radiologists' contribution to elder abuse detection is currently limited by gaps in training, gaps in knowledge about imaging correlates, and gaps in inter-team clinical communication. Specifically, radiographic interpretation of elder trauma is severely restricted by lack of communication between frontline providers and radiologists about patients' injury mechanism and functional status. Improving this communication and re-conceptualizing ED workflow is critical to expanding and optimizing radiologists' role in elder abuse detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihan Lee
- a Department of Radiology , Weill Cornell Medicine , New York , NY , USA
| | - Tony Rosen
- b Division of Emergency Medicine , Weill Cornell Medical College , NY , USA
| | - Kieran Murphy
- c Department of Medical Imaging , Toronto Western Hospital , Toronto , ON , CAN
| | - Pallavi Sagar
- d Department of Radiology , Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston , MA , USA
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25
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Altintop I, Tatli M. Physical abuse of the elderly: a 4-year retrospective evaluation in the emergency department. Psychogeriatrics 2019; 19:10-15. [PMID: 30103290 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIM Elderly physical abuse (EPA) is defined as injury or assault to or the restriction of an elderly person. Although EPA is an important social problem, its diagnosis is difficult because of tendency to cover up the event. In this study, patients aged 65 years and over who presented at the emergency department (ED) for forensic reasons and in whom physical abuse was suspected were examined. The aim of this study was to raise ED awareness of EPA and thereby to contribute to treatment plans for these patients in the ED. METHODS The study was conducted over a 4-year period between January 2013 and January 2017. Patients were selected retrospectively from the hospital information system according to the following criteria: (i) admission to ED with trauma; (ii) aged 65 and older; and (iii) evaluated as having forensic trauma by an ED specialist based on either the patient's history or the specialist's observations and suspicions. RESULTS The patients included 80 men (69%) and 36 women (31%), with a mean age of 73.92 ± 7.08 years. The length of ED stay was 0-1 h in 27.6% of patients and 1-6 h in 46.6%. When the causes of physical trauma were examined, general assault was seen as the most prevalent, occurring in nearly 63% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS There may be three conclusions for the current study: First, although EPA is a rare problem for patients referred to emergency services, health professionals should be suspicious when examining patients 65 years or older because of the difficulties of diagnosing EPA. Second, in patients with no history of suspicious trauma or suspicious radiological imaging results, EPA is also common. Third, because of the undetected EPA mechanism, patients should be examined forensically in suspicious cases and deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismail Altintop
- Department of Emergency Medicine, KayseriTraining and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Tatli
- Department of Emergency Medicine, KayseriTraining and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey
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Rosen T, Stern ME, Mulcare MR, Elman A, McCarthy TJ, LoFaso VM, Bloemen EM, Clark S, Sharma R, Breckman R, Lachs MS. Emergency department provider perspectives on elder abuse and development of a novel ED-based multidisciplinary intervention team. Emerg Med J 2018; 35:600-607. [PMID: 30093378 DOI: 10.1136/emermed-2017-207303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An ED visit provides a unique opportunity to identify elder abuse, which is common and has serious medical consequences. Despite this, emergency providers rarely recognise or report it. We have begun the design of an ED-based multidisciplinary consultation service to improve identification and provide comprehensive medical and forensic assessment and treatment for potential victims. METHODS We qualitatively explored provider perspectives to inform intervention development. We conducted 15 semistructured focus groups with 101 providers, including emergency physicians, social workers, nurses, technologists, security, radiologists and psychiatrists at a large, urban academic medical centre. Focus groups were transcribed, and data were analysed to identify themes. RESULTS Providers reported not routinely assessing for elder mistreatment and believed that they commonly missed it. They reported 10 reasons for this, including lack of knowledge or training, no time to conduct an evaluation, concern that identifying elder abuse would lead to additional work, and absence of a standardised response. Providers believed an ED-based consultation service would be frequently used and would increase identification, improve care and help ensure safety. They made 21 recommendations for a multidisciplinary team, including the importance of 24/7 availability, the value of a positive attitude in a consulting service and the importance of feedback to referring ED providers. Participants also highlighted that geriatric nurse practitioners may have ideal clinical and personal care training to contribute to the team. CONCLUSIONS An ED-based multidisciplinary consultation service has potential to impact care for elder abuse victims. Insights from providers will inform intervention development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Rosen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College / NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Michael E Stern
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College / NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Mary R Mulcare
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College / NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Alyssa Elman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College / NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York City, New York, USA
| | | | - Veronica M LoFaso
- Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City, New York, USA
| | | | - Sunday Clark
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College / NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Rahul Sharma
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College / NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Risa Breckman
- Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Mark S Lachs
- Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City, New York, USA
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Rosen T, Stern ME, Elman A, Mulcare MR. Identifying and Initiating Intervention for Elder Abuse and Neglect in the Emergency Department. Clin Geriatr Med 2018; 34:435-451. [PMID: 30031426 PMCID: PMC6057151 DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2018.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Elder abuse and neglect are common and may have serious medical and social consequences but are infrequently identified. An emergency department (ED) visit represents a unique but usually missed opportunity to identify potential abuse and initiate intervention. ED assessment should include observation of patient-caregiver interaction, comprehensive medical history, and head-to-toe physical examination. Formal screening protocols may also be useful. ED providers concerned about elder abuse or neglect should document their findings in detail. ED interventions for suspected or confirmed elder abuse or neglect include treatment of acute medical, traumatic, and psychological issues; ensuring patient safety; and reporting to the authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Rosen
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Emergency Department, Weill Cornell Medical College, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, 525 East 68th Street, Room M130, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| | - Michael E Stern
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Emergency Department, Weill Cornell Medical College, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, 525 East 68th Street, Room M130, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Alyssa Elman
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Emergency Department, Weill Cornell Medical College, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, 525 East 68th Street, Room M130, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Mary R Mulcare
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Emergency Department, Weill Cornell Medical College, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, 525 East 68th Street, Room M130, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Lee M, Rosen T, Murphy K, Sagar P. A Role for Imaging in the Detection of Physical Elder Abuse. J Am Coll Radiol 2018; 15:1648-1650. [PMID: 30017624 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2018.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mihan Lee
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Tony Rosen
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Kieran Murphy
- Department of Medical Imaging, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Pallavi Sagar
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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Atinga A, Shekkeris A, Fertleman M, Batrick N, Kashef E, Dick E. Trauma in the elderly patient. Br J Radiol 2018; 91:20170739. [PMID: 29509505 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20170739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Major Trauma Centres and Emergency Departments are treating an increasing number of elderly trauma patients in the UK. Elderly patients, defined as those over the age of 65 years, are more susceptible to injury from lesser mechanisms of trauma than younger adults. The number of elderly trauma cases is rising yearly, accounting for >25% of all major trauma nationally. The elderly have different physiological reserves and a different response to trauma due to premorbid frailty, co-existing conditions and prescribed medication. These factors need to be appreciated in trauma triaging, radiological assessment and clinical management. A lower threshold for trauma-call activation is recommended, including a lower threshold for advanced imaging. We will review general principles of trauma in the elderly, outline injury patterns in this age group and illustrate the radiological features per anatomical site, from head to pelvis and the extremities. We advocate using contrast-enhanced computed tomography as the primary diagnostic imaging modality as concern about intravenous contrast agent-induced nephropathy is relatively minor. Prompt investigation and diagnosis leads to timely appropriate treatment, therefore the radiologist can discerningly improve morbidity and mortality in this vulnerable group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Atinga
- 1 Department of Radiology, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust , London , UK
| | - Andreas Shekkeris
- 1 Department of Radiology, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust , London , UK
| | - Michael Fertleman
- 2 Department of Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust , London , UK
| | - Nicola Batrick
- 3 Department of Emergency Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust , London , UK
| | - Elika Kashef
- 1 Department of Radiology, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust , London , UK
| | - Elizabeth Dick
- 1 Department of Radiology, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust , London , UK
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Petti S. Elder neglect-Oral diseases and injuries. Oral Dis 2018; 24:891-899. [PMID: 29029370 DOI: 10.1111/odi.12797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Elder neglect (EN) is the failure of a designated caregiver to meet the needs of a dependent older person. World EN prevalence, meta-analyzed in this study, is 1.0% or 1.8% according to different statistical methods. Referring alleged EN cases to Adult Protective Services (APSs) by healthcare workers (HCWs) is mandatory in many countries. However, only few claims are substantiated, as EN could be confused with Self-Neglect, and neglect could be unintentional or due to caregiver unawareness. Screening tools are inaccurate, and their use is discouraged by public health organizations, because they lead to too many false positives, which engulf the already overwhelmed APSs. HCWs need effective tools with objective judgments, which do not hamper the HCW-caregiver-patient rapport and prevent lawsuits when allegations are unfounded. Orofacial EN manifestations (poor oral/denture hygiene, lack of needed/improper dentures, dry mouth, skin/mucosal rashes) are essential Forensic Markers of EN. I classified EN-associated oral diseases according to the unmet needs into four groups: (1) traumatic injuries due to lack of caregiver vigilance (e.g., maxillofacial fractures); (2) diseases due to oral hygiene deficiency (e.g., root caries); (3) diseases typical of the elderly with late/no diagnosis (e.g., oral cancer); and (4) diseases typical of the elderly exacerbated by psychological distress (e.g., oral lichen planus).
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Affiliation(s)
- S Petti
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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Makaroun LK, Taylor L, Rosen T. Veterans Experiencing Elder Abuse: Improving Care of a High-Risk Population About Which Little Is Known. J Am Geriatr Soc 2018; 66:389-393. [PMID: 29124741 PMCID: PMC5809269 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.15170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
At least 10% of older adults experience abuse, neglect, or exploitation annually in the United States, and this problem is expected to grow as our population ages. Little is known about the prevalence and characteristics of elder abuse of veterans, but it is likely that this population is at high risk based on established elder abuse risk factors. Veterans who receive their care through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) have a higher prevalence of poor psychological health, poor physical health, functional impairment, cognitive impairment, and social isolation than the general population. As the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States, the VHA has long been a leader in the development of innovative, integrated care programs for older adults. The VHA has another opportunity to lead by promoting research, clinical care, and education on elder abuse, furthering their mission of serving those who served. This article outlines the rationale for developing a research agenda for elder abuse in the VHA, as well as potential first steps toward understanding more about this complex problem affecting veterans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena K. Makaroun
- Health Services Research and Development, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Laura Taylor
- National Director of Social Work, Veterans Health Administration, VA Central Office, Washington, D.C
| | - Tony Rosen
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
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Nicklisch N, Ramsthaler F, Meller H, Friederich S, Alt KW. The face of war: Trauma analysis of a mass grave from the Battle of Lützen (1632). PLoS One 2017; 12:e0178252. [PMID: 28542491 PMCID: PMC5439951 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Contemporary accounts of battles are often incomplete or even erroneous because they reflect the—often biased—viewpoints of the authors. Battlefield archaeology faces the task of compiling an historical analysis of a battle and of gathering all the available facts. Besides cultural historical evidence and artefacts, the human remains of those who have fallen in battle also provide invaluable information. In studying mass graves from a military context, the injury types and patterns are significant. They allow us to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding the soldiers’ deaths and provide information on the hostilities that occurred on the battlefield. One such mass grave was discovered in 2011 at Lützen, Saxony-Anhalt (Germany). Based on its geographical location and on the results obtained from archaeological examinations carried out in the area, the grave could be dated to the Thirty Years War (1618–1648). Further archaeological research confirmed that the dead had been soldiers from the Battle of Lützen (1632). The mass grave was block-lifted and then comprehensively examined at the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle (Saale). As well as osteological examinations to determine age, sex, height, state of health, i.e. diseases or injuries, imaging methods were also employed and histological and isotopic analyses carried out. The focus of this study was on the injuries sustained by the soldiers both prior to and during the battle. The results revealed that the 47 deceased had been between the ages of 15 and 50 when they died. Numerous healed injuries showed that the men had often been involved in violent encounters. Approximately three in every four soldiers had injuries that could have been fatal. Wounds inflicted by handguns, particularly to the skull, were predominant. The integrative analysis of the archaeological and anthropological data allowed us to conclude that the majority had been killed during a cavalry attack.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Nicklisch
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt – State Museum of Prehistory, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Danube Private University, Krems-Stein, Austria
- * E-mail: ,
| | - Frank Ramsthaler
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Saarland University, Homburg (Saar), Germany
| | - Harald Meller
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt – State Museum of Prehistory, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Susanne Friederich
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt – State Museum of Prehistory, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Kurt W. Alt
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt – State Museum of Prehistory, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Danube Private University, Krems-Stein, Austria
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Elder Abuse. Fam Med 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-04414-9_26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Rosen T, Reisig C, LoFaso VM, Bloemen EM, Clark S, McCarthy TJ, Mtui EP, Flomenbaum NE, Lachs MS. Describing visible acute injuries: development of a comprehensive taxonomy for research and practice. Inj Prev 2016; 23:340-345. [PMID: 27913598 DOI: 10.1136/injuryprev-2016-042131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Revised: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little literature exists classifying and comprehensively describing intentional and unintentional acute injuries, which would be valuable for research and practice. In preparation for a study of injury patterns in elder abuse, our goal was to develop a comprehensive taxonomy of relevant types and characteristics of visible acute injuries and evaluate it in geriatric patients. METHODS We conducted an exhaustive review of the medical and forensic literature focusing on injury types, descriptions, patterns and analyses. We then prepared iteratively, through consensus with a multidisciplinary, national panel of elder abuse experts, a comprehensive classification system to describe these injuries. RESULTS We designed a three-step process to fully describe and classify visible acute injuries: (1) determining the type of injury, (2) assigning values to each of the characteristics common to all geriatric injuries and (3) assigning values to additional characteristics relevant for specific injuries. We identified nine unique types of visible injury and seven characteristics critical to describe all these injuries, including body region(s) and precise anatomic location(s). For each injury type, we identified two to seven additional critical characteristics, such as size, shape and cleanliness. We pilot tested it on 323 injuries on 83 physical elder abuse victims and 45 unintentional fall victims from our ongoing research to ensure that it would allow for the complete and accurate description of the full spectrum of visible injuries encountered and made modifications and refinements based on this experience. We then used the classification system to evaluate 947 injuries on 80 physical elder abuse victims and 195 unintentional fall victims to assess its practical utility. CONCLUSIONS Our comprehensive injury taxonomy systematically integrates and expands on existing forensic and clinical research. This new classification system may help standardise description of acute injuries and patterns among clinicians and researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Rosen
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Christopher Reisig
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA.,Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Veronica M LoFaso
- Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Sunday Clark
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Thomas J McCarthy
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Estomih P Mtui
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Neal E Flomenbaum
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mark S Lachs
- Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
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Rosen T, Clark S, Bloemen EM, Mulcare MR, Stern ME, Hall JE, Flomenbaum N, Lachs MS, Eachempati SR. Geriatric assault victims treated at U.S. trauma centers: Five-year analysis of the national trauma data bank. Injury 2016; 47:2671-2678. [PMID: 27720184 PMCID: PMC5614520 DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2016.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Revised: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION While geriatric trauma patients have begun to receive increased attention, little research has investigated assault-related injuries among older adults. Our goal was to describe characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of geriatric assault victims and compare them both to geriatric victims of accidental injury and younger assault victims. PATIENTS AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of the 2008-2012 National Trauma Data Bank. We identified cases of assault-related injury admitted to trauma centers in patients aged ≥60 using the variable "intent of injury." RESULTS 3564 victims of assault-related injury in patients aged ≥60 were identified and compared to 200,194 geriatric accident victims and 94,511 assault victims aged 18-59. Geriatric assault victims were more likely than geriatric accidental injury victims to be male (81% vs. 47%) and were younger than accidental injury victims (67±7 vs. 74±9 years). More geriatric assault victims tested positive for alcohol or drugs than geriatric accident victims (30% vs. 9%). Injuries for geriatric assault victims were more commonly on the face (30%) and head (27%) than for either comparison group. Traumatic brain injury (34%) and penetrating injury (32%) occurred commonly. The median injury severity score (ISS) for geriatric assault victims was 9, with 34% having severe trauma (ISS≥16). Median length of stay was 3 days, 39% required ICU care, and in-hospital mortality was 8%. Injury severity was greater in geriatric than younger adult assault victims, and, even when controlling for injury severity, in-hospital mortality, length of hospitalization, and need for ICU-level care were significantly higher in older adults. CONCLUSIONS Geriatric assault victims have characteristics and injury patterns that differ significantly from geriatric accidental injury victims. These victims also have more severe injuries, higher mortality, and poorer outcomes than younger victims. Additional research is necessary to improve identification of these victims and inform treatment strategies for this unique population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Rosen
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
| | - Sunday Clark
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
| | | | - Mary R. Mulcare
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
| | - Michael E. Stern
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
| | - Jeffrey E. Hall
- Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
| | - Neal Flomenbaum
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
| | - Mark S. Lachs
- National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA
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Wong NZ, Rosen T, Sanchez AM, Bloemen EM, Mennitt KW, Hentel K, Nicola R, Murphy KJ, LoFaso VM, Flomenbaum NE, Lachs MS. Imaging Findings in Elder Abuse: A Role for Radiologists in Detection. Can Assoc Radiol J 2016; 68:16-20. [PMID: 27745989 DOI: 10.1016/j.carj.2016.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Revised: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Emergency department assessment represents a critical but often missed opportunity to identify elder abuse, which is common and has serious consequences. Among emergency care providers, diagnostic radiologists are optimally positioned to raise suspicion for mistreatment when reviewing imaging of geriatric injury victims. However, little literature exists describing relevant injury patterns, and most radiologists currently receive neither formal nor informal training in elder abuse identification. METHODS We present 2 cases to begin characterisation of the radiographic findings in elder abuse. RESULTS Findings from these cases demonstrate similarities to suspicious findings in child abuse including high-energy fractures that are inconsistent with reported mechanisms and the coexistence of acute and chronic injuries. Specific injuries uncommon to accidental injury are also noted, including a distal ulnar diaphyseal fracture. CONCLUSIONS We hope to raise awareness of elder abuse among diagnostic radiologists to encourage future large-scale research, increased focus on chronic osseous findings, and the addition of elder abuse to differential diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Z Wong
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA; Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Tony Rosen
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA.
| | - Allen M Sanchez
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Kevin W Mennitt
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Keith Hentel
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Refky Nicola
- Department of Imaging Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Kieran J Murphy
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Veronica M LoFaso
- Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Neal E Flomenbaum
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mark S Lachs
- Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
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Radiologists' Training, Experience, and Attitudes About Elder Abuse Detection. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2016; 207:1210-1214. [PMID: 27732066 DOI: 10.2214/ajr.16.16078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Elder abuse is underrecognized, and identification of subtle cases requires a high index of suspicion among all health care providers. Because many geriatric injury victims undergo radiographic imaging, diagnostic radiologists may be well positioned to identify injury patterns suggestive of abuse. Little is known about radiologists' experience with elder abuse. Our goal was to describe knowledge, attitudes, training, and practice experience in elder abuse detection among diagnostic radiologists. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We conducted 19 interviews with diagnostic radiologists at a large urban academic medical center using a semistructured format. Data from these sessions were coded and analyzed to identify themes. RESULTS Only two radiologists reported any formal or informal training in elder abuse detection. All subjects believed they had missed cases of elder abuse. Even experienced radiologists reported never having received a request from a referring physician to assess images for evidence suggestive of elder abuse. All subjects reported a desire for additional elder abuse training. Also, subjects identified radiographic findings or patterns potentially suggestive of elder abuse, including high-energy injuries such as upper rib fractures, injuries in multiple stages of healing, and injuries inconsistent with reported mechanism. CONCLUSION Radiologists are uniquely positioned to identify elder abuse. Though training in detection is currently lacking, providers expressed a desire for increased knowledge. In addition, radiologists were able to identify radiographic findings suggestive of elder abuse. On the basis of these findings, we plan to conduct additional studies to define pathognomonic injury patterns and to explore how to empower radiologists to incorporate detection into their practice.
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Rosen T, Hargarten S, Flomenbaum NE, Platts-Mills TF. Identifying Elder Abuse in the Emergency Department: Toward a Multidisciplinary Team-Based Approach. Ann Emerg Med 2016; 68:378-82. [PMID: 27005448 PMCID: PMC5391043 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.01.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tony Rosen
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY.
| | - Stephen Hargarten
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Neal E Flomenbaum
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
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Beach SR, Carpenter CR, Rosen T, Sharps P, Gelles R. Screening and detection of elder abuse: Research opportunities and lessons learned from emergency geriatric care, intimate partner violence, and child abuse. J Elder Abuse Negl 2016; 28:185-216. [PMID: 27593945 PMCID: PMC7339956 DOI: 10.1080/08946566.2016.1229241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
This article provides an overview of elder abuse screening and detection methods for community-dwelling and institutionalized older adults, including general issues and challenges for the field. Then, discussions of applications in emergency geriatric care, intimate partner violence (IPV), and child abuse are presented to inform research opportunities in elder abuse screening. The article provides descriptions of emerging screening and detection methods and technologies from the emergency geriatric care and IPV fields. We also discuss the variety of potential barriers to effective screening and detection from the viewpoint of the older adult, caregivers, providers, and the health care system, and we highlight the potential harms and unintended negative consequences of increased screening and mandatory reporting. We argue that research should continue on the development of valid screening methods and tools, but that studies of perceived barriers and potential harms of elder abuse screening among key stakeholders should also be conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott R. Beach
- University Center for Social and Urban Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Christopher R. Carpenter
- Emergency Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine-St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Tony Rosen
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Phyllis Sharps
- Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Richard Gelles
- School of Social Policy and Practice, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Gironda MW, Nguyen AL, Mosqueda LM. Is This Broken Bone Because of Abuse? Characteristics and Comorbid Diagnoses in Older Adults with Fractures. J Am Geriatr Soc 2016; 64:1651-5. [PMID: 27418043 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.14246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine the relationship between individual characteristics and potential correlates of elder abuse in older adults who present with fractures. DESIGN Cross-sectional analysis of deidentified data extracted from medical records. SETTING Academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS Individuals aged 65 and with a primary diagnosis of any fracture admitted to an outpatient department or emergency department (ED) in a single southern California medical center over a 36-month period (N = 652). MEASUREMENTS Participant characteristics included demographic characteristics, number of medical visits, and point of service. Corresponding International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes, E-codes, and V-codes were extracted to identify cause, location, and type of fracture. The presence of 13 potential correlates of abuse as captured by ICD-9 codes were extracted and summed. Descriptive statistics and regression models were used for analyses. RESULTS Mean age of participants was 77.2, 58% were female (58%), 60% were white (60%), and 46% had one or more potential correlates of abuse. In bivariate analyses, older age (≥80), dementia, seeking care in the ED (vs inpatient or outpatient clinics), only one visit to a medical facility (vs multiple visits) in the 36-month study period, cause of fracture as something other than a fall, and fractures of the head or face were more likely to have at least one correlate of abuse. In logistic regression, dementia (B = 0.794, standard error (SE) = 0.280); seeking care in the ED (vs outpatient or outpatient clinics) (B = 1.86, SE = 0.302); at least two visits to a medical facility (vs multiple visits) (B = -0.585, SE = 0.343); and fracture of the back (B = 0.730, SE = 0.289), head (B = 1.22, SE = 0.333), and face (B = 1.28, SE = 0.474) were associated with the presence of at least one correlate of abuse. CONCLUSION Certain characteristics in older adults with fracture are associated with potential correlates of abuse. Medical practitioners should have a heightened awareness when these signs are present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie W Gironda
- Department of Family Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Alhambra, California
| | - Annie L Nguyen
- Department of Family Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Alhambra, California
| | - Laura M Mosqueda
- Department of Family Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Alhambra, California
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Abstract
Elder abuse is a growing problem in the United States. Incidents of physical and sexual abuse, as well as neglect, continue to rise as the population ages. Maltreatment of the elderly is associated with increased morbidity and mortality rate, as well as increased health care costs. Fear, shame, and lack of knowledge contribute to underreporting of elder abuse and put the safety of elders at risk. This paper describes indicators of physical and sexual abuse and neglect in the elderly intensive care unit patient and presents how abuse can be identified in the critical care setting.
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Abstract
A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify effective approaches to preventing and addressing abuse and neglect of older adults within health care settings in Canada. The review was conducted using databases searched from January 2000-April-May 2013. Additionally, expert panel members submitted article citations from personal archives. Two research associates (NRA) screened each title and abstract for inclusion. After inter-rater reliability was determined between the NRAs (Kappa score of 0.76), the records were divided, appraised, and data extracted independently. The review resulted in 62 studies that focused on identifying, assessing, and responding to abuse and neglect of older adults; education, prevention, and health promotion strategies; and organizational and system-level supports to prevent and respond to abuse and neglect. Abuse and neglect of older adults remains under-explored in terms of evidence-based studies; consequently, further research in all of the areas described in the results is needed.
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Rosen T, Bloemen EM, LoFaso VM, Clark S, Flomenbaum NE, Lachs MS. Emergency Department Presentations for Injuries in Older Adults Independently Known to be Victims of Elder Abuse. J Emerg Med 2016; 50:518-26. [PMID: 26810019 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2015.10.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2015] [Revised: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elder abuse is under-recognized by emergency department (ED) providers, largely due to challenges distinguishing between abuse and accidental trauma. OBJECTIVE To describe patterns and circumstances surrounding elder abuse-related and potentially abuse-related injuries in ED patients independently known to be physical elder abuse victims. METHODS ED utilization of community-dwelling victims of physical elder abuse in New Haven, CT from 1981-1994 was analyzed previously. Cases were identified using Elderly Protective Services data matched to ED records. Sixty-six ED visits were judged to have high probability of being related to elder abuse and 244 were of indeterminate probability. We re-examined these visits to assess whether they occurred due to injury. We identified and analyzed in detail 31 injury-associated ED visits from 26 patients with high probability of being related to elder abuse and 108 visits from 57 patients with intermediate probability and accidental injury. RESULTS Abuse-related injuries were most common on upper extremities (45% of visits) and lower extremities (32%), with injuries on head or neck noted in 13 visits (42%). Bruising was observed in 39% of visits, most commonly on upper extremities. Forty-two percent of purportedly accidental injuries had suspicious characteristics, with the most common suspicious circumstance being injury occurring more than 1 day prior to presentation, and the most common suspicious injury pattern being maxillofacial injuries. CONCLUSION Victims of physical elder abuse commonly have injuries on the upper extremities, head, and neck. Suspicious circumstances and injury patterns may be identified and are commonly present when victims of physical elder abuse present with purportedly accidental injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Rosen
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Elizabeth M Bloemen
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York; Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Veronica M LoFaso
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Sunday Clark
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Neal E Flomenbaum
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Mark S Lachs
- Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
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Abstract
Because older victims of abuse tend to be isolated, their interactions with physicians are important opportunities to recognize abuse and intervene. This review explores the manifestations of elder abuse and the role of multidisciplinary teams in its assessment and management.
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Frazão SL, Correia AM, Norton P, Magalhães T. Physical abuse against elderly persons in institutional settings. J Forensic Leg Med 2015; 36:54-60. [PMID: 26397767 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2015.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Revised: 08/16/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION People over 65 years old are expected to be an increasing group exposed to abuse. Despite the well-studied intra-familial abuse, institutional abuse still lacks a proper understanding about its determinants and characteristics. AIM The general objective of this study is to provide a better knowledge about physical abuse against elderly people in institutional settings, in order to contribute to a timely detection, correct forensic diagnosis and prevention of these cases. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted through the analysis of forensic medical exams performed in the North Forensic Medical Services of Portugal, between 2004 and 2013, to elderly persons allegedly victims of physical abuse in an institutional setting by a caregiver (n = 59). RESULTS All the alleged cases occurred in nursing homes and in most of them (93.2%) the charges were against the institution and not focussing on a particular individual. The alleged victims were mainly female (79.7%), 75 years or older (75.9%), presenting a severe disability (55.9%) and 47.2% being unable to communicate. No injuries or post-traumatic pain were found in 55.9% of the cases to support the charge of physical abuse. Only in 6.8% of the cases were the forensic medical findings suggestive of physical abuse and, although this was not the object of the examination, 69.1% were considered suggestive or highly suggestive of neglect. A statistically significant association was found between the alleged victim's degree of disability and the occurrence of neglect (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION The sample's size seems to be underestimated, probably due to lack of detection and/or reporting. The condition of these persons, mainly related with their inability to perceive abusive behaviours and/or to disclose them (mostly by physical and/or mental disability), as well as their reluctance to press charges due to fear of reprisal, affects significantly the detection and diagnosis of physical abuse, particularly in whom injuries are not obvious. In anticipation to the rapid ageing of the population, it is urgent to analyse and understand this emerging issue so that social policies and regulation may be developed, in an effort to protect the elderly, as well as to make improvements in the professionals' skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Lalanda Frazão
- Department of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine of Porto University, Portugal; North Branch of the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Porto, Portugal; Abel Salazar Biomedical Science Institute, Porto, Portugal; Forensic Science Center - CENCIFOR, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Ana Margarida Correia
- Department of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine of Porto University, Portugal
| | - Pedro Norton
- Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine of Porto University, Portugal
| | - Teresa Magalhães
- Department of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine of Porto University, Portugal; North Branch of the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Porto, Portugal; Abel Salazar Biomedical Science Institute, Porto, Portugal; Forensic Science Center - CENCIFOR, Coimbra, Portugal
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Domestic violence against elderly with disability. J Forensic Leg Med 2014; 28:19-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2014.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2014] [Revised: 08/14/2014] [Accepted: 09/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Abstract
Elder abuse and neglect are highly prevalent but woefully underdetected and underreported. The presentation is rarely clear and requires the piecing together of clues that create a mosaic of the full picture. More research needed to better characterize findings that, when identified, can contribute to certainty in cases of suspected abuse. Medical and laboratory data can be helpful in the successful determination of abuse and neglect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica M LoFaso
- New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, Box 39, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| | - Tony Rosen
- New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, Box 39, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Gibbs LM. Understanding the medical markers of elder abuse and neglect: physical examination findings. Clin Geriatr Med 2014; 30:687-712. [PMID: 25439636 DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2014.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
A specific foundation of knowledge is important for evaluating potential abuse from physical findings in the older adult. The standard physical examination is a foundation for detecting many types of abuse. An understanding of traumatic injuries, including patterns of injury, is important for health care providers, and inclusion of elder abuse in the differential diagnosis of patient care is essential. One must possess the skills needed to piece the history, including functional capabilities, and physical findings together. Armed with this skill set, health care providers will develop the confidence needed to identify and intervene in cases of elder abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Gibbs
- Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Department of Family Medicine, University of California, Irvine, 101 The City Drive, Orange, CA 92868, USA.
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Elder Abuse. Fam Med 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0779-3_26-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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