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Spilsbury K, Charlwood A, Thompson C, Haunch K, Valizade D, Devi R, Jackson C, Alldred DP, Arthur A, Brown L, Edwards P, Fenton W, Gage H, Glover M, Hanratty B, Meyer J, Waton A. Relationship between staff and quality of care in care homes: StaRQ mixed methods study. HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE DELIVERY RESEARCH 2024; 12:1-139. [PMID: 38634535 DOI: 10.3310/gwtt8143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Background Quality of life and care varies between and within the care homes in which almost half a million older people live and over half a million direct care staff (registered nurses and care assistants) work. The reasons are complex, understudied and sometimes oversimplified, but staff and their work are a significant influence. Objective(s) To explore variations in the care home nursing and support workforce; how resident and relatives' needs in care homes are linked to care home staffing; how different staffing models impact on care quality, outcomes and costs; how workforce numbers, skill mix and stability meet residents' needs; the contributions of the care home workforce to enhancing quality of care; staff relationships as a platform for implementation by providers. Design Mixed-method (QUAL-QUANT) parallel design with five work packages. WP1 - two evidence syntheses (one realist); WP2 - cross-sectional survey of routine staffing and rated quality from care home regulator; WP3 - analysis of longitudinal data from a corporate provider of staffing characteristics and quality indicators, including safety; WP4 - secondary analysis of care home regulator reports; WP5 - social network analysis of networks likely to influence quality innovation. We expressed our synthesised findings as a logic model. Setting English care homes, with and without nursing, with various ownership structures, size and location, with varying quality ratings. Participants Managers, residents, families and care home staff. Findings Staffing's contribution to quality and personalised care requires: managerial and staff stability and consistency; sufficient staff to develop 'familial' relationships between staff and residents, and staff-staff reciprocity, 'knowing' residents, and skills and competence training beyond induction; supported, well-led staff seeing modelled behaviours from supervisors; autonomy to act. Outcome measures that capture the relationship between staffing and quality include: the extent to which resident needs and preferences are met and culturally appropriate; resident and family satisfaction; extent of residents living with purpose; safe care (including clinical outcomes); staff well-being and job satisfaction were important, but underacknowledged. Limitations Many of our findings stem from self-reported and routine data with known biases - such as under reporting of adverse incidents; our analysis may reflect these biases. COVID-19 required adapting our original protocol to make it feasible. Consequently, the effects of the pandemic are reflected in our research methods and findings. Our findings are based on data from a single care home operator and so may not be generalised to the wider population of care homes. Conclusions Innovative and multiple methods and theory can successfully highlight the nuanced relationship between staffing and quality in care homes. Modifiable characteristics such as visible philosophies of care and high-quality training, reinforced by behavioural and relational role modelling by leaders can make the difference when sufficient amounts of consistent staff are employed. Greater staffing capacity alone is unlikely to enhance quality in a cost-effective manner. Social network analysis can help identify the right people to aid adoption and spread of quality and innovation. Future research should focus on richer, iterative, evaluative testing and development of our logic model using theoretically and empirically defensible - rather than available - inputs and outcomes. Study registration This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42021241066 and Research Registry registration: 1062. Funding This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme (NIHR award ref: 15/144/29) and is published in full in Health and Social Care Delivery Research; Vol. 12, No. 8. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andy Charlwood
- Leeds University Business School, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Carl Thompson
- School of Healthcare, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Kirsty Haunch
- School of Healthcare, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Danat Valizade
- Leeds University Business School, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Reena Devi
- School of Healthcare, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | | | | | - Antony Arthur
- School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Lucy Brown
- The Florence Nightingale Foundation, London, UK
| | | | | | - Heather Gage
- School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Surrey, UK
| | - Matthew Glover
- School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Surrey, UK
| | - Barbara Hanratty
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Julienne Meyer
- School of Health Sciences, City University of London, London, UK
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Wright JR, D'Ausilio J, Holmberg JM, Timpson M, Preston T, Woodfield D, Snow GL. Using Quality Indicator Codes to Identify Patients' Fall Risk in Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2023; 104:1394-1401. [PMID: 37024006 DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2023.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To discover if quality indicator (QI) codes are associated with patient falls in inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs). DESIGN This retrospective cohort study explored differences between patients who fell and those who did not fall. We analyzed potential associations between QI codes and falls using univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. SETTING We collected data from electronic medical records at 4 IRFs. PARTICIPANTS In 2020, our 4 data collection sites admitted and discharged a total of 1742 patients older than 14 years . We only excluded patients (N=43) from statistical analysis if they were discharged before admission data had been assigned. INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Using a data extraction report, we collected age, sex, race and ethnicity, diagnosis, falls, and QI codes for communication, self-care, and mobility performance. Staff documented communication codes on a 1-4 scale and self-care and mobility codes on a 1-6 scale, with higher codes representing greater independence. RESULTS Ninety-seven patients (5.71%) fell in the 4 IRFs over a 12-month period. The group who fell had lower QI codes for communication, self-care, and mobility. When adjusting for bed mobility, transfer, and stair-climbing ability, low performance with understanding, walking 10 feet, and toileting were significantly associated with falls. Patients with admission QI codes below 4 for understanding had 78% higher odds of falling. If they were assigned admission QI codes below 3 for walking 10 feet or toileting, they had 2 times greater odds of falling. We did not find a significant association between falls and patients' diagnosis, age, sex, or race and ethnicity in our sample. CONCLUSIONS Communication, self-care, and mobility QI codes appear to be significantly associated with falls. Future research should explore how to use these required codes to better identify patients likely to fall in IRFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R Wright
- Rehabilitation Services, Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, Utah; Doctor of Physical Therapy Department, Rocky Mountain University, Provo, Utah.
| | - Jamie D'Ausilio
- Rehabilitation Services, Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Janene M Holmberg
- Rehabilitation Services, Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Misti Timpson
- Rehabilitation Services, Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, Utah; Doctor of Physical Therapy Department, Rocky Mountain University, Provo, Utah
| | - Trevor Preston
- Enterprise Analytics, Intermountain Medical Center, Murray, Utah
| | - Devyn Woodfield
- Enterprise Analytics, Intermountain Medical Center, Murray, Utah
| | - Gregory L Snow
- Statistical Data Center, Intermountain Medical Center, Murray, Utah
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Kwon J, Squires H, Franklin M, Young T. Systematic review and critical methodological appraisal of community-based falls prevention economic models. COST EFFECTIVENESS AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION 2022; 20:33. [PMID: 35842721 PMCID: PMC9287934 DOI: 10.1186/s12962-022-00367-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Falls impose significant health and economic burdens on community-dwelling older persons. Decision modelling can inform commissioning of alternative falls prevention strategies. Several methodological challenges arise when modelling public health interventions including community-based falls prevention. This study aims to conduct a systematic review (SR) to: systematically identify community-based falls prevention economic models; synthesise and critically appraise how the models handled key methodological challenges associated with public health modelling; and suggest areas for further methodological research. METHODS The SR followed the 2021 PRISMA reporting guideline and covered the period 2003-2020 and 12 academic databases and grey literature. The extracted methodological features of included models were synthesised by their relevance to the following challenges: (1) capturing non-health outcomes and societal intervention costs; (2) considering heterogeneity and dynamic complexity; (3) considering theories of human behaviour and implementation; and (4) considering equity issues. The critical appraisal assessed the prevalence of each feature across models, then appraised the methods used to incorporate the feature. The methodological strengths and limitations stated by the modellers were used as indicators of desirable modelling practice and scope for improvement, respectively. The methods were also compared against those suggested in the broader empirical and methodological literature. Areas of further methodological research were suggested based on appraisal results. RESULTS 46 models were identified. Comprehensive incorporation of non-health outcomes and societal intervention costs was infrequent. The assessments of heterogeneity and dynamic complexity were limited; subgroup delineation was confined primarily to demographics and binary disease/physical status. Few models incorporated heterogeneity in intervention implementation level, efficacy and cost. Few dynamic variables other than age and falls history were incorporated to characterise the trajectories of falls risk and general health/frailty. Intervention sustainability was frequently based on assumptions; few models estimated the economic/health returns from improved implementation. Seven models incorporated ethnicity- and severity-based subgroups but did not estimate the equity-efficiency trade-offs. Sixteen methodological research suggestions were made. CONCLUSION Existing community-based falls prevention models contain methodological limitations spanning four challenge areas relevant for public health modelling. There is scope for further methodological research to inform the development of falls prevention and other public health models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Kwon
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court (ScHARR), 30 Regent Street, Sheffield, S1 4DA England UK
| | - Hazel Squires
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court (ScHARR), 30 Regent Street, Sheffield, S1 4DA England UK
| | - Matthew Franklin
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court (ScHARR), 30 Regent Street, Sheffield, S1 4DA England UK
| | - Tracey Young
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court (ScHARR), 30 Regent Street, Sheffield, S1 4DA England UK
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Polat F, Karasu F. The effect of health promotion training provided to elderly individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic on healthy lifestyle behaviors. Glob Health Promot 2022; 29:129-139. [PMID: 35722980 DOI: 10.1177/17579759221095078] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the areas most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic is health promotion. In order to improve the quality of life of elderly individuals, it is important to develop and implement effective intervention strategies that can prevent negative health outcomes. PURPOSE The aim of this study is to determine the effect of health promotion training provided to elderly individuals on healthy lifestyle behaviors. METHODS This study was conducted as a randomized-controlled experimental study. The study was completed with 140 elderly individuals over 65 years of age, including 70 participants in intervention group and 70 participants in control group. The data were collected using the Information Form and the Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale-I. Training was provided to the intervention group as one session a week for three weeks. Percentage, arithmetic mean, and standard deviation as well as chi-square, dependent samples t-test, and independent samples t-test were used to assess the data. FINDINGS While the pretest mean score of the intervention group for the overall Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale-I was 103.90 ± 16.96, their posttest mean score was 136.17 ± 19.60 and it was found that there was a statistically significant difference between the results (p = 0.000). While the pretest mean score of the control group for the overall Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale-I was 107.22 ± 21.09, their posttest mean score was 106.57 ± 21.49 and it was found that there was no statistically significant difference between the results (p = 0.609). CONCLUSION It was observed that healthy lifestyle behaviors of elderly individuals in the intervention group improved positively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filiz Polat
- Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Osmaniye Korkut Ata University, Osmaniye, Turkey
| | - Fatma Karasu
- Department of Nursing, Yusuf Şerefoğlu Faculty of Health Sciences, Kilis 7 Aralık University, Kilis, Turkey
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Kwon J, Squires H, Franklin M, Lee Y, Young T. Economic models of community-based falls prevention: a systematic review with subsequent commissioning and methodological recommendations. BMC Health Serv Res 2022; 22:316. [PMID: 35255898 PMCID: PMC8902781 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-07647-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Falls impose significant health and economic burdens among older populations, making their prevention a priority. Health economic models can inform whether the falls prevention intervention represents a cost-effective use of resources and/or meet additional objectives such as reducing social inequities of health. This study aims to conduct a systematic review (SR) of community-based falls prevention economic models to: (i) systematically identify such models; (ii) synthesise and critically appraise modelling methods/results; and (iii) formulate methodological and commissioning recommendations. METHODS The SR followed PRISMA 2021 guideline, covering the period 2003-2020, 12 academic databases and grey literature. A study was included if it: targeted community-dwelling persons aged 60 and over and/or aged 50-59 at high falls risk; evaluated intervention(s) designed to reduce falls or fall-related injuries; against any comparator(s); reported outcomes of economic evaluation; used decision modelling; and had English full text. Extracted data fields were grouped by: (A) model and evaluation overview; (B) falls epidemiology features; (C) falls prevention intervention features; and (D) evaluation methods and outcomes. A checklist for falls prevention economic evaluations was used to assess reporting/methodological quality. Extracted fields were narratively synthesised and critically appraised to inform methodological and commissioning recommendations. The SR protocol is registered in the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42021232147). RESULTS Forty-six models were identified. The most prevalent issue according to the checklist was non-incorporation of all-cause care costs. Based on general population, lifetime models conducting cost-utility analyses, seven interventions produced favourable ICERs relative to no intervention under the cost-effectiveness threshold of US$41,900 (£30,000) per QALY gained; of these, results for (1) combined multifactorial and environmental intervention, (2) physical activity promotion for women, and (3) targeted vitamin D supplementation were from validated models. Decision-makers should explore the transferability and reaches of interventions in their local settings. There was some evidence that exercise and home modification exacerbate existing social inequities of health. Sixteen methodological recommendations were formulated. CONCLUSION There is significant methodological heterogeneity across falls prevention models. This SR's appraisals of modelling methods should facilitate the conceptualisation of future falls prevention models. Its synthesis of evaluation outcomes, though limited to published evidence, could inform commissioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Kwon
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court (ScHARR), 30 Regent Street, Sheffield, S1 4DA England
| | - Hazel Squires
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court (ScHARR), 30 Regent Street, Sheffield, S1 4DA England
| | - Matthew Franklin
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court (ScHARR), 30 Regent Street, Sheffield, S1 4DA England
| | - Yujin Lee
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL England
| | - Tracey Young
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court (ScHARR), 30 Regent Street, Sheffield, S1 4DA England
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Gold HT, McDermott C, Hoomans T, Wagner TH. Cost data in implementation science: categories and approaches to costing. Implement Sci 2022; 17:11. [PMID: 35090508 PMCID: PMC8796347 DOI: 10.1186/s13012-021-01172-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A lack of cost information has been cited as a barrier to implementation and a limitation of implementation research. This paper explains how implementation researchers might optimize their measurement and inclusion of costs, building on traditional economic evaluations comparing costs and effectiveness of health interventions. The objective of all economic evaluation is to inform decision-making for resource allocation and to measure costs that reflect opportunity costs—the value of resource inputs in their next best alternative use, which generally vary by decision-maker perspective(s) and time horizon(s). Analyses that examine different perspectives or time horizons must consider cost estimation accuracy, because over longer time horizons, all costs are variable; however, with shorter time horizons and narrower perspectives, one must differentiate the fixed and variable costs, with fixed costs generally excluded from the evaluation. This paper defines relevant costs, identifies sources of cost data, and discusses cost relevance to potential decision-makers contemplating or implementing evidence-based interventions. Costs may come from the healthcare sector, informal healthcare sector, patient, participant or caregiver, and other sectors such as housing, criminal justice, social services, and education. Finally, we define and consider the relevance of costs by phase of implementation and time horizon, including pre-implementation and planning, implementation, intervention, downstream, and adaptation, and through replication, sustainment, de-implementation, or spread.
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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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Edmunds K, Scuffham P, Newton RU, Galvão DA, Tuffaha H. Exercise in preventing falls for men with prostate cancer: a modelled cost-utility analysis. Support Care Cancer 2022; 30:5037-5046. [PMID: 35201385 PMCID: PMC9046330 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-022-06900-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Men who receive androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer (PCa) are a vulnerable falls population due to the side effects of treatment. The purpose of this paper is to determine the cost-effectiveness of exercise in preventing falls and fractures for this high-risk population in Australia. METHODS A decision analytic model was constructed to evaluate the cost utility of an exercise intervention compared to usual care from a health system perspective. The intervention comprised two 1-h sessions of supervised exercise per week over 1 year for men with non-metastatic PCa receiving curative radiation therapy and ADT. A Markov model simulated the transition between five health states: (1) at risk of falling; (2) at recurrent risk of falling; (3) fracture (minor or major); (4) non-fracture injury (minor or major); and (5) death. Model inputs including transition probabilities and utility scores were obtained from published meta-analyses, and costs were drawn from Australian data sources (e.g. Medical Benefits Schedule). The model time horizon was 3 years, and costs and effects were discounted at 5% annual rate. Costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were aggregated and compared between the intervention and control to calculate incremental net monetary benefit (iNMB). Uncertainty in the results was explored using deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA). RESULTS At a willingness-to-pay of AU$50,000 per QALY, the exercise intervention dominated, as it was less costly and more effective than usual care. The iNMB was $3010 per patient. The PSA showed a 58% probability the intervention was cost-effective. CONCLUSION This is the first modelled economic evaluation of exercise for men with PCa. Our results suggest supervised exercise is cost-effective in reducing the risks of falls and fractures in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Edmunds
- Centre for the Business and Economics of Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | - Paul Scuffham
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Robert U Newton
- Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia
| | - Daniel A Galvão
- Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia
| | - Haitham Tuffaha
- Centre for the Business and Economics of Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
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Impact of Fall Risk and Direct Oral Anticoagulant Treatment on Quality-Adjusted Life-Years in Older Adults with Atrial Fibrillation: A Markov Decision Analysis. Drugs Aging 2021; 38:713-723. [PMID: 34235644 DOI: 10.1007/s40266-021-00870-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The decision to initiate anticoagulation in older adults with atrial fibrillation is complicated by the benefit of ischemic stroke prevention vs the risk of falls resulting in major bleeds. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of different treatments including direct oral anticoagulants on quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) in patients aged 75 years and older with atrial fibrillation in the context of falls. METHODS A Markov decision process was constructed for older patients with atrial fibrillation taking no anti-thrombotic, aspirin, warfarin, rivaroxaban, and apixaban. Input probabilities for clinical events were estimated from the available literature. One-way and two-way sensitivity analyses were performed by measuring the impact of varying input probabilities of clinical events on QALY outcomes. RESULTS The base-case scenario estimated that older adults treated with no anti-thrombotic, aspirin, warfarin, rivaroxaban, and apixaban had QALYs of 8.03, 8.69, 10.38, 11.02, and 11.56, respectively. The sensitivity analysis estimated that an older adult would need to fall over 45 (rivaroxaban) and 458 (apixaban) times per year for the QALY of a direct oral anticoagulant to be lower than that of aspirin. CONCLUSIONS Older adults with atrial fibrillation benefit from stroke protection of anticoagulants, especially direct oral anticoagulants, even if they are at high risk of falls. Clinicians should not consider fall risk as a deciding factor for withholding anticoagulation in this population of patients.
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She Q, Chen B, Liu W, Li M, Zhao W, Wu J. Frailty Pathogenesis, Assessment, and Management in Older Adults With COVID-19. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:694367. [PMID: 34295914 PMCID: PMC8290059 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.694367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly contagious and deadly disease. The elderly people are often accompanied by chronic inflammation and immunodeficiency, showing a frail state. The strength, endurance, and physiological function of the elderly are significantly decreased, and the ability to deal with stress response is weakened. They are the high-risk group that suffering from COVID-19, and rapidly developing to critical illness. Several recent studies suggest that the incidence rate of COVID-19 in elderly patients with frailty is high. Early assessment, detection, and effective intervention of frailty in COVID-19 patients are conducive to significantly improve the quality of life and improve prognosis. However, there are insufficient understanding and standards for the current evaluation methods, pathogenesis and intervention measures for COVID-19 combined with frailty. This study reviews the progress of the research on the potential pathogenesis, evaluation methods and intervention measures of the elderly COVID-19 patients with frailty, which provides a reference for scientific and reasonable comprehensive diagnosis and treatment in clinical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan She
- Department of Geriatrics, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bo Chen
- Department of Geriatrics, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wen Liu
- Department of Geriatrics, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Geriatrics, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Weihong Zhao
- Department of Geriatrics, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianqing Wu
- Department of Geriatrics, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Franklin M, Lomas J, Richardson G. Conducting Value for Money Analyses for Non-randomised Interventional Studies Including Service Evaluations: An Educational Review with Recommendations. PHARMACOECONOMICS 2020; 38:665-681. [PMID: 32291596 PMCID: PMC7319287 DOI: 10.1007/s40273-020-00907-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
This article provides an educational review covering the consideration of conducting ‘value for money’ analyses as part of non-randomised study designs including service evaluations. These evaluations represent a vehicle for producing evidence such as value for money of a care intervention or service delivery model. Decision makers including charities and local and national governing bodies often rely on evidence from non-randomised data and service evaluations to inform their resource allocation decision-making. However, as randomised data obtained from randomised controlled trials are considered the ‘gold standard’ for assessing causation, the use of this alternative vehicle for producing an evidence base requires careful consideration. We refer to value for money analyses, but reflect on methods associated with economic evaluations as a form of analysis used to inform resource allocation decision-making alongside a finite budget. Not all forms of value for money analysis are considered a full economic evaluation with implications for the information provided to decision makers. The type of value for money analysis to be conducted requires considerations such as the outcome(s) of interest, study design, statistical methods to control for confounding and bias, and how to quantify and describe uncertainty and opportunity costs to decision makers in any resulting value for money estimates. Service evaluations as vehicles for producing evidence present different challenges to analysts than what is commonly associated with research, randomised controlled trials and health technology appraisals, requiring specific study design and analytic considerations. This educational review describes and discusses these considerations, as overlooking them could affect the information provided to decision makers who may make an ‘ill-informed’ decision based on ‘poor’ or ‘inaccurate’ information with long-term implications. We make direct comparisons between randomised controlled trials relative to non-randomised data as vehicles for assessing causation; given ‘gold standard’ randomised controlled trials have limitations. Although we use UK-based decision makers as examples, we reflect on the needs of decision makers internationally for evidence-based decision-making specific to resource allocation. We make recommendations based on the experiences of the authors in the UK, reflecting on the wide variety of methods available, used as documented in the empirical literature. These methods may not have been fully considered relevant to non-randomised study designs and/or service evaluations, but could improve and aid the analysis conducted to inform the relevant value for money decision problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Franklin
- Health Economics and Decision Science (HEDS), School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, West Court, 1 Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 4DT UK
| | - James Lomas
- Centre for Health Economics, University of York, Heslington, York UK
| | - Gerry Richardson
- Centre for Health Economics, University of York, Heslington, York UK
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Digital assessment of falls risk, frailty, and mobility impairment using wearable sensors. NPJ Digit Med 2019; 2:125. [PMID: 31840096 PMCID: PMC6906412 DOI: 10.1038/s41746-019-0204-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Falls are among the most frequent and costly population health issues, costing $50bn each year in the US. In current clinical practice, falls (and associated fall risk) are often self-reported after the “first fall”, delaying primary prevention of falls and development of targeted fall prevention interventions. Current methods for assessing falls risk can be subjective, inaccurate, have low inter-rater reliability, and do not address factors contributing to falls (poor balance, gait speed, transfers, turning). 8521 participants (72.7 ± 12.0 years, 5392 female) from six countries were assessed using a digital falls risk assessment protocol. Data consisted of wearable sensor data captured during the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test along with self-reported questionnaire data on falls risk factors, applied to previously trained and validated classifier models. We found that 25.8% of patients reported a fall in the previous 12 months, of the 74.6% of participants that had not reported a fall, 21.5% were found to have a high predicted risk of falls. Overall 26.2% of patients were predicted to be at high risk of falls. 29.8% of participants were found to have slow walking speed, while 19.8% had high gait variability and 17.5% had problems with transfers. We report an observational study of results obtained from a novel digital fall risk assessment protocol. This protocol is intended to support the early identification of older adults at risk of falls and inform the creation of appropriate personalized interventions to prevent falls. A population-based approach to management of falls using objective measures of falls risk and mobility impairment, may help reduce unnecessary outpatient and emergency department utilization by improving risk prediction and stratification, driving more patients towards clinical and community-based falls prevention activities.
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