Frailty management in older patients: a best practice implementation project

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Frailty in older adults leads to organ decline, disability, and mortality.
• Timely diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing frailty.
• Untreated frailty accelerates decline and increases mortality risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement evidence-based practices for frailty management in medical wards.
• To prevent disability in older patients experiencing frailty.
• To improve patient outcomes through proactive frailty interventions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the JBI Evidence Implementation Framework with audit and feedback.
• Employed a pre- and post-test design to measure compliance changes.
• Used JBI PACES and GRiP software for data collection and planning in a Taiwanese hospital.

Main Results:

• Baseline compliance with frailty care criteria was below 30%.
• Post-implementation, compliance increased to over 90% for all criteria.
• Strategies included professional training, care guidelines, and interdisciplinary consensus.

Conclusions:

• Evidence-based frailty management strategies were successfully implemented and measured.
• Key strategies for improving compliance included training, digitized tools, and team collaboration.
• Routine measurement and interdisciplinary approaches are vital for effective frailty management.