Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026
05:53
Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty
Published on: July 24, 2013
17.1K
Home visits: A new screening tool for frailty? A retrospective exploratory study
David Attwood1, Kara Stevens2, Lindsay Jones3
1Old Farm Surgery, Paignton, United Kingdom.
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
|January 2, 2019
Summary
Home visits can effectively screen for frailty in older adults. This method is easily accessible through primary care IT systems, offering a practical tool for identifying frailty.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Primary Care Medicine
- Health Informatics
Background:
- The UK's NHS contract requires Electronic Frailty Index (EFI) use for frailty screening, but EFI lacks validation for this purpose.
- Frailty is strongly associated with being housebound or institutionalized, conditions often un-coded in primary care IT.
- Home visits, however, are coded and can identify housebound patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the potential of using home visits as a screening tool for frailty.
- To determine if housebound status, identified via home visit records, can serve as a proxy for frailty.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study in South Devon primary care (March 2015 - February 2016).
- Analysis of 154 patients over 65, comparing 82 who received home visits with 72 controls.
- Two blinded clinicians assessed frailty, with an arbitrator resolving disagreements.
Main Results:
- Home visits demonstrated a sensitivity of 87.23% and a specificity of 61.68% for identifying frailty.
- Interobserver reliability for frailty assessment showed fair agreement (Cohen's Kappa).
Conclusions:
- Home visits represent a viable screening tool for frailty in primary care.
- Data on home visits are readily available in primary care IT systems.
- This approach can aid in the identification of frail individuals.
Related Concept Videos
02:46Genetic Screens
5.7K
Genetic screens are tools used to identify genes and mutations responsible for phenotypes of interest. Genetic screens help identify individuals or a group of people at risk of developing genetic diseases and help them with early intervention, targeted therapy, and reproductive options.
Forward genetic screens
Forward or “classical” genetic screens involve creating random mutations in an organism’s DNA using radiation, mutagens, or insertion of additional bases, which...
Forward genetic screens
Forward or “classical” genetic screens involve creating random mutations in an organism’s DNA using radiation, mutagens, or insertion of additional bases, which...
5.7K
01:13Overview of Microsoft Excel as a Data Analysis Tool
1.6K
Microsoft Excel is a cornerstone tool for data analysis and statistical operations, offering a wide array of functionalities to manage, analyze, and visualize data efficiently. Recognized for its versatility, Excel facilitates the performance of basic to complex statistical operations, serving as an indispensable asset for analysts, researchers, and students alike. Excel's significance in data analysis emanates from its spreadsheet environment, where data can be organized in rows and...
1.6K
01:22Case Studies
13.5K
There are many research methods available to psychologists in their efforts to understand, describe, and explain behavior and the cognitive and biological processes that underlie it.
13.5K
01:28Imaging Studies I: Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder Studies
347
Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder (KUB) StudiesKidney, Ureter, and Bladder (KUB) studies are standard diagnostic imaging procedures used to assess the anatomy of the urinary system. They are commonly utilized for patients experiencing abdominal pain or urinary symptoms. By using a simple X-ray of the abdomen, KUB studies can reveal structural and pathological abnormalities within the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. These studies are particularly valuable in diagnosing kidney stones, urinary...
347
01:26Longitudinal Studies
526
Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...
526
01:11Observational Studies
11.1K
Observational studies are a type of analytical study where researchers observe events without any interventions. In other words, the researcher does not influence the response variable or the experiment's outcome.
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One...
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One...
11.1K