Estudio controlado sobre la eficacia de una valoración e intervención integral en pacientes ancianos ingresados en una unidad de convalecencia geriátrica

Abstract

The comprehensive geriatric assessment is a multidimensional and interdisciplinary diagnostic process to detect needs and functional, cognitive and social skills and medical problems to establish contingency plans and individualized monitoring. Though it done in many care settings, convalescence units offer intense and prolonged nursing interventions while generating positive effects on the health of the elderly._x000D_ Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a program of geriatric assessment and intervention in elderly post-acute phase of an illness, who were admitted to a convalescence unit (intervention group), compared with a similar group discharged home (control group)._x000D_ Method: 375 hospitalized over 65 years old who meet certain condition were pre-selected. These conditions were: inability to rise from the chair/bed, unable to walk and/or altered mental status. They were followed up and at the moment of discharge inclusion and exclusion criteria were assessed, to select 149 patients. 63(42.29%) were rejected (were not randomized due to lack of caregiver), leaving 86 (57, 71%) who were randomly assigned discharge destination: geriatric convalescence unit (intervention group) or home (control group) .After the result of randomization, the patient consent to be included in the assigned group (Zelen randomized double consent was requested ). If not, he was awarded the alternative destination. Both groups were further analyzed using the technique of "intention to treat" (IT) as well as the true destination (DR) to which they were incorporated. Nine patients were excluded after randomization, leaving 77. Both groups were followed for 3 and 6 months after discharge, collecting the following variables: survival, functional capacity, cognitive function, comorbidity, place of residence, need caregiver, number falls, drug consumption, number readmissions and quality of life (Nottingham Health Profile)._x000D_ Results: When comparing both groups at baseline, no significant differences in both analyzes (IT and DR) were found. After three months, 54 patients (15 deaths and 8 lost) were. At six months, 34 (3 deaths and 17 missing) were. Losses and deaths were distributed similarly in both groups of study and analysis. After three months in the IT analysis, no significant differences in the studied variables were found, except fewer readmissions and falls in the intervention group (no statistical significance in IT (p = 0.55) but DR analysis (p = 0.004)). In IT there were better perception of quality of life (social (p = 0.049) and emotional (P = 0.018) dimensions in the intervention group. The effect size (clinical relevance of change) was medium (0.69) and large (0.92) respectively. After six months, the IT analysis showed more readmissions and greater use of home physiotherapy and trend seen to require caregiver (control group) but it was not statistically significant. In the intervention group analysis IT showed a tendency to better perception of quality life. It was not statistically significant but clinically relevant (effect size index> 80 in energy, pain and total score, and> 50 in social and mobility). The NHP score showed a tendency to improvement in both groups and analysis, reaching significance in DR dimensional energy (p = 0.09) and total (p = 0.020)._x000D_ Conclusions: For the three and six months, geriatric convalescence intervention provided better perception of quality of life in some dimensions and tendency to fewer readmissions / falls. There was also reduction in the number of drugs present at three months (only significant in the analysis DR). No significant differences were observed for improvement in functional capacity, cognitive function and survival, or need for home care resources between the two study groups

Date of Award	13 Apr 2016
Original language	Undefined/Unknown
Awarding Institution	Hospital del Mar
Supervisor	Ramon Miralles Basseda (Director)