Transdisciplinary Research In Frailty: Knowledge Translation To Inform New Models of Care

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Services Research
• Translational Science

Background:

• Frailty in older adults presents significant personal and health system challenges globally.
• Effective interventions require collaborative research that incorporates stakeholder perspectives.
• Existing health services often struggle to meet the multifaceted needs of frail older individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of collaborative, transdisciplinary approaches in addressing frailty.
• To showcase an exemplar Centre for Research Excellence in Frailty in South Australia.
• To discuss the role of co-design in knowledge translation for frailty care.

Main Methods:

• Establishment of a national Centre for Research Excellence in Frailty with international partnerships.
• Formation of a transdisciplinary team including geriatric medicine, nursing, general practice, health economics, pharmacy, and rehabilitation medicine.
• Application of a co-design approach to knowledge translation and research application.

Main Results:

• The Centre for Research Excellence in Frailty brings together diverse expertise to achieve system-level improvements.
• A co-design framework facilitates the translation of research into practical applications for frailty.
• Collaboration across disciplinary silos is key to developing effective frailty management strategies.

Conclusions:

• Transforming care for frail older adults necessitates collaborative research and stakeholder engagement.
• A co-design approach to knowledge translation is crucial for successful frailty research application.
• Restructuring health services through collaboration is vital to address the physical, emotional, and social needs of older adults.