Citation

Gaboreau Y, Imbert P, Jacquet JP, Royer De Vericourt G, Couturier P, Gavazzi G. Arch. Gerontol. Geriatr. 2016; 65: 85-91.

Affiliation

Univ. Grenoble Alpes, TIMC-IMAG, F-38000 Grenoble, France; Clinic of Geriatrics, University medical center of Grenoble, Avenue des Marquis du Grésivaudan, 38706 La Tronche, France. Electronic address: ggavazzi@chu-grenoble.fr.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.archger.2016.03.002

PMID

27015652

Abstract

The objective was to determine the factors affecting French GPs' implementation of annual screening for falls among patients of 75 years old and over. We conduct a cross-sectional study in two areas in the South-east of France (Savoie and Isère). An anonymized survey was sent by e-mail and/or post in May 2008 to all GPs with a large practice. Reminder letters were sent to GPs who hadn't answered between June and July 2008. Potentials barriers were measured by dichotomous scale. On GPs characteristics (socio-demographic, knowledge, attitude and practice), a multiple logistic regression was performed to identify others factors affecting falls screening. 493 questionnaires were analyzed (26.8%). 65.3% of respondents considered annual screening for falls to be useful, though only 28.8% of them implemented it each year and 9.3% every two to five years. Barriers to achieving annual screening included patient selecting (56.3%), forgetting to screen (26.6%), unsuitable working conditions (18.5%), lack of time (13.3%), of knowledge (13.3%), or of financial compensation (11.1%). Perception of the usefulness of annual screening for falls (OR=5.38 (2.07-14.08); p=0.001), satisfaction with medical care for falls (OR=1.34 (1.09-1.65); p=0.006) and increased consultation time (OR=2.65 (1.37-5.13); p=0.004), were found to have a significant impact on the implementation of annual screening for falls. Asking your patient each year if s/he has had any falls, inquiring about gait and balance disturbance is not time consuming. Finally, to improve a health-related quality of life, GPs should consider fall assessment as a fundamental feature of medical care.

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Language: en