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Journal Article

Citation

Abdulaziz KE, Brehaut J, Taljaard M, Emond M, Sirois MJ, Lee JS, Wilding L, Perry JJ. BMC Fam. Pract. 2016; 17(1): e117.

Affiliation

Epidemiology Program, F6, The Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus 1053 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4E9, Canada. jperry@ohri.ca.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/s12875-016-0520-1

PMID

27550226

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Failing to assess elderly patients for functional decline at the time around a minor injury may result in adverse health outcomes. This study was conducted to define what constitutes clinically significant functional decline and the sensitivity required for a clinical decision instrument to identify such functional decline after an injury in previously independent elderly patients.

METHODS: After a thorough development process, a survey questionnaire was administered to a random sample of 178 family physicians. The surveys were distributed using a modified Dillman technique.

RESULTS: From 143 eligible surveys, we received 67 completed surveys (response rate, 46.9 %). Respondents indicated that a drop of at least 3 points on the 28-point Older Americans Resources and Services (OARS) ADL Scale was considered clinically significant by 90 % of physicians. Ninety percent (90 %) of physicians would be satisfied with a sensitivity of 90 % or more for a clinical decision instrument to detect patients at risk of functional decline at 6 months following an injury. The majority of family physicians do not routinely assess the majority of the tasks on the OARS scale for injured elderly patients.

CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of physicians (90 %) would consider a drop of 3 points on the OARS ADL Scale as significant to define functional decline and would be satisfied with a sensitivity of 90 % for a clinical decision instrument to detect such a decline. Any instrument to identify patients at elevated risk for subsequent decline should consider these outcome measures to be clinically useful.


Language: en

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