Background: Delirium is a common condition in hospitals, especially among older people. This refers to a dramatic decline in mental capabilities marked by diminished concentration and consciousness. Aims: The purpose of this study is to assess the views, knowledge, and behavior of non-consultant hospital doctors about managing delirium in a large Irish hospital. Methods: Questionnaires were given to 28 healthcare professionals from various departments according to Davis and MacLullicin (2009). It was conducted between July and September 2023 with emphasis on finding out its prevalence rate
Introduction Shared Decision-Making (SDM) is increasingly expected in most aspects of UK medical practice and can be particularly important for older patients to guide goals of care. Treatment Escalation Plans (TEP) summarise medical intervention to be attempted in the event of acute deterioration. Current guidance advocates SDM in TEP but it is unclear whether this is considered practicable by clinicians. This study aims to understand clinicians’ perspectives on SDM in TEP for older patients in the acute medical setting. Methods This was a qualitative study following a relativist
Background Fragility fractures, defined as fractures resulting from low energy trauma (1), are consistent with a diagnosis of osteoporosis. When a patient is discharged from hospital, guidelines recommend principal and additional diagnoses, relevant co-morbidities contributing to primary diagnosis, medications and relevant investigations are recorded (2). Methods This audit reviewed discharge summaries of all patients discharged from a rehabilitation unit over two months, in accordance with the Health Information and Quality Authority’s (HIQA) National Standard for Patient Discharge Summary
Introduction: Delirium affects up to 50% of older individuals within hospital environments, with a notable occurrence in 30% of those aged 65 and above in emergency departments. This QIP aimed to enhance the early recognition of delirium by implementing the 4AT assessment and optimize assessments and investigations by implementing the Delirium Bundle. Methodology: A survey involving 39 doctors was conducted to evaluate their comprehension of delirium and awareness of the Delirium Bundle. PDSA 1 involved retrospective data analysis of medical records for patients admitted with delirium and used
Introduction: The terminology surrounding manual-handling equipment and discharge planning is rarely taught in medical school. Yet, it is crucial for medical staff, particularly those working on Care of the Elderly (COTE) wards, to comprehend these terms to accurately assess a patient's function and optimise discharge planning. Methods: A 17-question survey was distributed to establish the baseline knowledge of medical staff in a district general hospital, with the aim of using PDSA (plan, do, study, act) cycles for improvement as needed. Following preliminary data analysis, a lunchtime
Abstract Background: Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are the primary medication for dementia treatment. Bradycardia is a possible adverse effect associated with ChEIs. However, the relationship between ChEIs and bradycardia has not been definitively established, particularly in the Asian population. We conducted a study investigating the association between ChEIs and heart rate. Methods: We retrieved data from electronic medical records (EMR) of patients aged over 60 who were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or dementia at Ramathibodi Hospital between January 2009 and December 2022
Experiences of Healthcare Staff in an Acute Hospital-Nursing Home Collaboration: A Qualitative Study
Introduction: Many countries are facing an ageing population, and this is also evident in Singapore. To alleviate this matter and to cope with the increasing number of older persons today, nursing homes are also expanding. Residents of nursing homes are often frail and are at higher risk of multiple hospital admissions. On many occasions, the benefit of conveying the frail residents to acute hospitals is unclear and may even cause more harm. We implemented an acute hospital-nursing home collaborative pilot in two nursing homes with an objective to reduce emergency department visit and
Introduction Frailty is a condition with increasing prevalence in the UK and significantly impacts the lives of those affected and their families. Frailty is a condition best managed by teams of skilled multi-disciplinary health and social care professionals (HSCPs). It is therefore essential that all HSCPs working with older people living with frailty are equipped with the appropriate knowledge and attitudes to look after affected persons. Methods The British Geriatric Society (BGS) and NHS England (NHSE) collaborated to produce an online e-learning module to support HSCPs to provide frailty
Purpose To investigate physiotherapists’ perspectives of effective community provision following hip fracture. Methods Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 community physiotherapists across England. Thematic analysis drawing on the Theoretical Domains Framework identified barriers and facilitators to implementation of effective provision. Interviews were complemented by process mapping community provision in one London borough, to identify points of care where suggested interventions are in place and/or could be implemented. Results Four themes were identified
Introduction Despite the UK’s increasing life expectancy, and increasing elderly population, we have an overwhelming lack of Geriatricians; as of 2022, there is only 1 consultant Geriatrician per 8,031 individuals over of 65. To meet the care needs of this population, we must focus on increasing the interest that doctors have towards Geriatrics, with the overall aim being to recruit more doctors into Geriatrics. Method This review aimed to investigate what factors medical students perceive as barriers to pursuing a career in Geriatric Medicine and then, from identifying these, generate a set
Introduction: One of the most important consequences of hospitalisation in older patients is sarcopenia. This study aims to determine the impact of hospitalisation on muscle mass, functional status, nutritional status, and short-term clinical outcomes. Methods: A prospective study of patients admitted to an Acute Geriatric Ward between 1st November and 30th December 2022. Muscle ultrasound, utilising Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) at the bedside, was employed to estimate rectus femoris muscle thickness (MT), area (Ar), pennation angle (PA), and fascicle length (FL) at the time of hospital
Background Perioperative services must adapt to the needs of an increasingly older surgical population. Perioperative medicine for Older People undergoing Surgery (POPS) services integrate geriatric medicine teams into surgical pathways to provide quality and cost-effective medical care. This project aims to examine value-based outcomes (clinical and financial impact) of embedding a POPS service at a district general hospital. Methods Following a period of implementation on an acute Trauma and Orthopaedic (T&O) ward, a two-week pilot was undertaken. All emergency fragility fracture admissions
Wipes are a practical solution for cleansing skin and widely used in children, neonates, and in geriatric care. Some wipes contain compounds may cause dryness, itching, irritation, and inflammation. This abstract looks at the efficacy of wipes that do not contain multiple unnecessary added ingredients.
Introduction: Early identification and management of all contributory factors is vital in the management of delirium. Delay in investigation can lead to morbidity, mortality, longer length of stay or inappropriate discharge from hospital. We carried out a Quality Improvement project looking to ensure all patients with delirium had appropriate blood tests taken in the Emergency Department (ED). Methods: For the first cycle, 25 patients > 65 years admitted through ED in December 2022 and January 2023 with delirium were identified based on medical clerking and post take ward round diagnosis
At University Hospital Monklands, a district general hospital in Lanarkshire, an ED in-reach pilot was set up to deliver the best possible outcomes for frail older adults by proactively reducing unscheduled admissions, thereby reducing the time they spend in the hospital. Aim To reduce unscheduled admissions for patients with a clinical frailty score (CFS) ≥ 6, admitted to ED between 8am – 3pm, Monday to Friday, by 50%. Method An ED Frailty MDT was formed, comprising of Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) nurses/ Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANP) and Consultant Geriatricians. Patients ≥ 65 years
Introduction Falls are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in frail patients, with visual impairment doubling the risk of falls. NICE advises a multifactorial approach to identify risk factors to be treated, improved and managed. This includes sensory/visual assessment, which is poorly done in practice. The aim is for 50% of relevant patients admitted with fractures following falls to have a vision assessment within 5 days of admission. Methods A modified RCP ‘Look out! Bedside vision check for falls prevention’ aid for healthcare professionals was utilised. Patients excluded were those
Introduction: BGS reports in its 'Case for more Geriatricians' that the number of people age over 85 is set to double by 2045. As well as Geriatric specific policies in the Ageing Well programme of the NHS Longterm Workforce Plan there are plans to expand the number of allied health professionals including Physician Associates (PA). We set out to improve PA students knowledge of and confidence in managing geriatric patients with a bespoke teaching programme culminating in a novel bleep simulation. Methods: We identified the students needs with a preliminary survey and then created a teaching
Introduction: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is the most common fall-related injury among adults 65 and older, despite the high incidence there is a paucity of research to guide management of older adult TBI . Simple passive remote home monitoring systems can be used to unobtrusively track markers of health and function in older adults and enhance clinical decision making in community-based care models, such as ‘hospital at home’. There are few studies to-date examining healthcare practitioners (HCPs) views on this technology. We aimed to explore HCPs insights on how to best develop the
Abstract Aim: Several scores have been developed to identify SDEC patients from Emergency Department (ED) triage and acute medical intakes. Scores are designed to improve system efficiency, overcrowding and patient experience but none have been developed for older adults. Previous work has shown that existing scores e.g. Glasgow Admission Prediction Score, Sydney Triage to Admission Risk Tool and the Ambulatory Score were not able to predict admission in our population(1). We have developed a novel, frailty-focused score. Methods: The Older Person’s Assessment service (OPAS) is ED based
Introduction During 2022, non-femoral fractures that didn’t require operative management had 30 days median inpatient length of stay (LOS) at SBUHB. Femoral fracture patients >65 years had LOS 36 days (GIRFT average 19 days), with 720 admissions. High local incidence is believed to be contributed by historical failures to identify and treat non-femoral fragility fractures. A new service was created from a collective effort to do better for our patients and prevent avoidable harm by breaking down barriers between services and promoting effective collaborative working. Methods A collaboration