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Reliability of an Online Geriatric Assessment Procedure Using the inter RAI Acute Care Assessment System
Author(s) -
MartinKhan Melinda G.,
Edwards Helen,
Wootton Richard,
Counsell Steven R.,
Varghese Paul,
Lim Wen Kwang,
Darzins Peteris,
Dakin Lucy,
Klein Kerenaftali,
Gray Leonard C.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/jgs.14895
Subject(s) - medicine , triage , referral , acute care , geriatrics , medical diagnosis , face validity , emergency medicine , family medicine , physical therapy , psychometrics , health care , psychiatry , clinical psychology , pathology , economics , economic growth
Objectives To determine whether geriatric triage decisions made using a comprehensive geriatric assessment ( CGA ) performed online are less reliable than face‐to‐face ( FTF ) decisions. Design Multisite noninferiority prospective cohort study. Two specialist geriatricians assessed individuals sequentially referred for an acute care geriatric consultation. Participants were allocated to one FTF assessment and an additional assessment ( FTF or online ( OL )), creating two groups—two FTF ( FTF ‐ FTF , n = 81) or online and FTF ( OL ‐ FTF , n = 85). Setting Three acute care public hospitals in two Australian states. Participants Admitted individuals referred for CGA . Intervention Nurse‐administered CGA , based on the inter RAI Acute Care assessment system accessed online and other online clinical data such as pathology results and imaging enabling geriatricians to review participants’ information and provide input into their care from a distance. Measurements The primary decision subjected to this analysis was referral for permanent residential care. Geriatricians also recorded recommendations for referrals and variations for medication management and judgment regarding prognosis at discharge and after 3 months. Results Overall percentage agreement was 88% (n = 71) for the FTF ‐ FTF group and 91% (n = 77) for the OL ‐ FTF group. The difference in agreement between the FTF ‐ FTF and OL ‐ FTF groups was −3%, indicating that there was no difference between the methods of assessment. Judgements made regarding diagnoses of geriatric syndromes, medication management, and prognosis (with regard to hospital outcome and location at 3 months) were found to be equally reliable in each mode of consultation. Conclusion Geriatric assessment performed online using a nurse‐administered structured CGA system was no less reliable than conventional assessment in making clinical triage decisions.