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Conneely M, Leahy A, O'Connor M, Barry L, Corey G, Griffin A, O'Shaughnessy Í, O'Carroll I, Leahy S, Trépel D, Ryan D, Robinson K, Galvin R. A physiotherapy-led transition to home intervention for older adults following emergency department discharge: protocol for a pilot feasibility randomised controlled trial. Pilot Feasibility Stud 2022; 8:3. [PMID: 34980285 PMCID: PMC8720939 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-021-00954-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Older adults frequently attend the emergency department (ED) and experience high rates of adverse outcomes following ED presentation including functional decline, ED re-presentation and unplanned hospital admission. The development of effective interventions to prevent such outcomes is a key priority for research and service provision. This paper reports a protocol designed to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a three arm randomised controlled trial (RCT) within the ED setting and in the patient’s home. The interventions are comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), ED PLUS and usual care. Methods The ED PLUS pilot trial is designed as a feasibility RCT conducted in the ED and Acute Medical Assessment Unit of a university teaching hospital in the mid-west region of Ireland. We aim to recruit 30 patients, aged 65 years and over presenting to the ED with undifferentiated medical complaints and discharged within 72 h of index visit. Patients will be randomised by a computer in a ratio of 1:1:1 to deliver usual care, CGA or ED PLUS during a 6-month study period. A randomised algorithm is used to perform randomization. CGA will include a medical assessment, medication review, nursing assessment, falls assessment, assessment of mobility and stairs, transfers, personal care, activities of daily living (ADLs), social supports and baseline cognition. ED PLUS, a physiotherapist led, multidisciplinary intervention, aims to bridge the transition of care between the index visit to the ED and the community by initiating a CGA intervention in the ED and implementing a 6-week follow-up self-management programme in the patient’s own home following discharge from the ED. The outcomes will be parameters of the feasibility of the intervention and trial methods and will be assessed quantitatively and qualitatively. Discussion Rising ED visits and an ageing population with chronic health issues render ED interventions to reduce adverse outcomes in older adults a research priority. This feasibility RCT will generate data and experience to inform the conduct and delivery of a definite RCT. Trial registration The trial was registered in Clinical Trials Protocols and Results System as of 21st July 2021, with registration number NCT049836020. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40814-021-00954-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mairéad Conneely
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
| | - Aoife Leahy
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.,Department of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Margaret O'Connor
- Department of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Louise Barry
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Gillian Corey
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Anne Griffin
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Íde O'Shaughnessy
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.,Department of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Ida O'Carroll
- Department of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Siobhán Leahy
- Department of Sport, Exercise & Nutrition, School of Science & Computing, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland
| | - Dominic Trépel
- Trinity Institute of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Damian Ryan
- Limerick EM Education Research Training (ALERT), Emergency Department, University Hospital Limerick, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Katie Robinson
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Rose Galvin
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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Rahman S, Thompson D, Clayton A, Conroy S, Tite M. Analysis of the Experience-Based Design Feedback Data on a National Scale. J Patient Exp 2021; 7:1068-1076. [PMID: 33457547 PMCID: PMC7786651 DOI: 10.1177/2374373520969253] [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] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The United Kingdom Office of National Statistics population estimates that 10 million people are aged 65 years and older, of which some would be considered frail. This is conceptualized as a complex progressive loss of physiological and social function. In order to establish and evaluate appropriate services, feedback tools designed for this patient group have begun to take greater importance, which the Acute Frailty Network has been developing using experience-based design. These tools focus on the experience of frail patients in the settings of accident and emergency and the acute medical unit. An analysis of data from 12 hospitals was used to look at the common emotions and comments expressed at the key touchpoints. A total of 609 respondents were used in the analysis, revealing that patients expressed mostly positive experiences. The areas with the most negative emotions and comments were in the domains "being admitted," "first assessment," and "preparing to leave hospital." We would recommend that future quality improvement projects focus in improving the communication standards around the admission and discharge process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakib Rahman
- Joondalup Health Campus, Putney, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Alice Clayton
- Joondalup Health Campus, Putney, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Conroy
- University of Leicester Hospitals Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matt Tite
- Joondalup Health Campus, Putney, London, United Kingdom
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