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Barton L, Nelson M, Scholes C, Strudwick K. A physiotherapy-led review of guideline-based care for community-dwelling older people presenting to a metropolitan hospital with accidental falls. Australas J Ageing 2024; 43:43-51. [PMID: 37861178 DOI: 10.1111/ajag.13247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE(S) Several guidelines exist to inform best-practice management of community-dwelling fallers. This study aimed to outline a pragmatic approach to developing an audit tool for guideline-based care of falls and provide an overview of current practice. METHODS An audit tool to determine compliance with guideline-based care was developed with an allied health and physiotherapy focus, utilising the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health-Care Guidelines for Preventing Falls and Harm from Falls in Older People (2009) and Queensland State Government 'Stay on your Feet' guidelines. A retrospective audit of medical records was completed in July 2020 of community-dwelling people aged 65 years and over with a fall-related emergency department (ED) presentation in a medium-sized metropolitan hospital in Australia. Data were compared between patients admitted to hospital and those discharged home from the ED. RESULTS Ninety-three patients were included: 68 were discharged home from ED and 25 were admitted to hospital. There was a significant difference in receiving an allied health review (p < .001) between admitted patients (96%) and those who discharged home from ED (68%). The Clinical Frailty Scale was only completed for 23% of patients. Physiotherapy quality-of-care (n = 46 patients) was variable, with poor completion of physical outcome measures (7%) and fall education (4%). However, assessment of mobility was routinely completed (94%), and most patients were referred to an appropriate community service (66%). CONCLUSIONS Adherence to guideline-based care of community-dwelling fallers is inconsistent. Improvements are required in the consistency of risk stratification, comprehensive physical assessment and patient education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loren Barton
- Physiotherapy Department, QEII Jubilee Hospital, Metro South Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mark Nelson
- Physiotherapy Department, QEII Jubilee Hospital, Metro South Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- RECOVER Injury Research Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Kirsten Strudwick
- Physiotherapy Department, QEII Jubilee Hospital, Metro South Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Testa L, Richardson L, Cheek C, Hensel T, Austin E, Safi M, Ransolin N, Carrigan A, Long J, Hutchinson K, Goirand M, Bierbaum M, Bleckly F, Hibbert P, Churruca K, Clay-Williams R. Strategies to improve care for older adults who present to the emergency department: a systematic review. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:178. [PMID: 38331778 PMCID: PMC10851482 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-10576-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this systematic review was to examine the relationship between strategies to improve care delivery for older adults in ED and evaluation measures of patient outcomes, patient experience, staff experience, and system performance. METHODS A systematic review of English language studies published since inception to December 2022, available from CINAHL, Embase, Medline, and Scopus was conducted. Studies were reviewed by pairs of independent reviewers and included if they met the following criteria: participant mean age of ≥ 65 years; ED setting or directly influenced provision of care in the ED; reported on improvement interventions and strategies; reported patient outcomes, patient experience, staff experience, or system performance. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed by pairs of independent reviewers using The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Data were synthesised using a hermeneutic approach. RESULTS Seventy-six studies were included in the review, incorporating strategies for comprehensive assessment and multi-faceted care (n = 32), targeted care such as management of falls risk, functional decline, or pain management (n = 27), medication safety (n = 5), and trauma care (n = 12). We found a misalignment between comprehensive care delivered in ED for older adults and ED performance measures oriented to rapid assessment and referral. Eight (10.4%) studies reported patient experience and five (6.5%) reported staff experience. CONCLUSION It is crucial that future strategies to improve care delivery in ED align the needs of older adults with the purpose of the ED system to ensure sustainable improvement effort and critical functioning of the ED as an interdependent component of the health system. Staff and patient input at the design stage may advance prioritisation of higher-impact interventions aligned with the pace of change and illuminate experience measures. More consistent reporting of interventions would inform important contextual factors and allow for replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Testa
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
| | - Lieke Richardson
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
| | - Colleen Cheek
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia.
| | - Theresa Hensel
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
- Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science (IMVR), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Elizabeth Austin
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
| | - Mariam Safi
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
- Internal Medicine Research Unit, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Aabenraa, Denmark
- Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Natália Ransolin
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
- Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil
| | - Ann Carrigan
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
| | - Janet Long
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
| | - Karen Hutchinson
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
| | - Magali Goirand
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
| | - Mia Bierbaum
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
- Allied Health and Human Performance, IIMPACT in Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, 5001, Australia
| | - Felicity Bleckly
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
| | - Peter Hibbert
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
- Allied Health and Human Performance, IIMPACT in Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, 5001, Australia
| | - Kate Churruca
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
| | - Robyn Clay-Williams
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
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Kerr L, Newman P, Russo P. 'I don't want to impose on anybody': Older people and their families discuss their perceptions of risk, cause and care in the context of falls. Int J Older People Nurs 2023; 18:e12578. [PMID: 37776081 DOI: 10.1111/opn.12578] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Falls in hospitalised patients remain an ongoing challenge for healthcare systems internationally. Limited research exists on the perspectives of older people on falls risk, cause and care. OBJECTIVES This study explored the experiences of patients and their families after a fall in a healthcare facility. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients and families to explore the experience of having a fall. Data were analysed thematically. RESULTS The themes that emerged from the 14 interviews included the following: explanations; physical environment; communication; experiences of care; perceptions of risk; ageism; feelings towards the fall; and independence and dignity. CONCLUSIONS This research emphasises the diversity in older people's experiences after experiencing a fall. Falls prevention should be incorporated as one part of healthy, dignified ageing. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Falls prevention and management strategies should be multifactorial, including enhanced communication with the patient and their families. When engaging in education and awareness, falls prevention should be positioned as one component of independent and dignified healthy ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucille Kerr
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Philip Russo
- Cabrini Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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Ackerman IN, Barker A, Soh SE. Falls prevention and osteoarthritis: time for awareness and action. Disabil Rehabil 2023; 45:733-738. [PMID: 35191810 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2040617] [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: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) and falls both commonly affect older people. While high-level evidence exists to prevent falls in older people, falls prevention is rarely considered within contemporary OA management. OA care and falls prevention have for too long been considered as separate clinical constructs. In the context of ageing populations and growing numbers of people with OA, the time to raise awareness and enact appropriate action is now. This Perspectives on Rehabilitation article draws on the findings from a comprehensive mixed-methods falls and OA research program (which uniquely spanned population, clinician, and consumer perspectives) to better understand existing evidence-practice gaps and identify key opportunities for improvements in clinical care.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONWhile high-level evidence exists to prevent falls in older people, falls prevention is rarely considered within contemporary OA management and this represents a concerning knowledge-to-practice gap.Given ageing populations and growth in the number of people with OA, it is time for falls prevention to be incorporated within routine OA care for older people.To achieve this, we need to re-shape current messaging around falls prevention and develop targeted resources to optimise clinician knowledge and skills in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilana N Ackerman
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Anna Barker
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Silver Chain Group, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sze-Ee Soh
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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Brullo J, Rushton S, Brickner C, Madden-Baer R, Peng T. Using Root Cause Analysis to Inform a Falls Practice Change in the Home Care Setting. Home Healthc Now 2022; 40:40-48. [PMID: 34994719 DOI: 10.1097/nhh.0000000000001036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Falls are a significant health problem in community-dwelling older adults, resulting in injuries, deaths, and increased healthcare costs. Falls were a quality concern for a Northeastern home care agency and this project aimed to evaluate the falls prevention process for older adults receiving home care services by determining potential root causes of falls and to identify a practice change. This quality improvement project used a root cause analysis methodology with a retrospective matched case-control design. Records of patients with falls were assessed for falls prevention process fidelity and compared with patients without a fall matched on the Missouri Alliance for Home Care-10 (MAHC-10) assessment, examining plan of care accuracy and patient fall risk factors. Findings indicated fidelity concerns in the fall prevention process, with gaps in care planning aligned with identified risk factors. Interventions to mitigate identified MAHC-10 risk factors on care plans were present less than 50% of the time for four of the six factors. Polypharmacy (7.46%) and pain affecting function (9.21%) were most frequently unaddressed risk factors in the care plan. Recommendations included implementation of a falls prevention pathway, including standardized falls risk assessment, universal falls precautions in the care plan with tailored interventions based on risk factors, and referral initiation when necessary.
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