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Suboptimal bone protection in geriatric inpatients and effect of a simple educational and mnemonic strategy
Author(s) -
Scott Taylor Arndt,
Beveridge Alexander,
Ní Chrónín Danielle
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
australasian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 1440-6381
DOI - 10.1111/ajag.12320
Subject(s) - mnemonic , simple (philosophy) , medicine , psychology , cognitive psychology , philosophy , epistemology
Aim Osteoporosis is underdiagnosed and undertreated in Australia, especially in hospitalised patients. We aimed to improve bone health management in geriatric inpatients by introducing a mnemonic into discharge summaries. Methods A retrospective review of patients discharged from our geriatric unit was performed before and after intervention. Outcomes assessed were as follows: vitamin D measurement, bone protection medication and communication to general practitioners. Results Sixty‐one patients were included in the initial audit, and 82 in the reaudit. There was an increase in measurement of vitamin D levels (86.6% vs 57.4%, P < 0.001) and in the communication to the general practitioner (84.7% vs 28.6%, P < 0.001). Patients in the reaudit were more likely to have vitamin D initiated or increased (43.0% vs 7.4%, P = 0.001) and to have antiresorptive therapy commenced (9.8% vs 0%, P = 0.01) . Conclusion The introduction of simple education and mnemonic strategy has shown significant improvement in the assessment and management of bone health in at‐risk patients.