Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 27, 2026
Identifying Frailty Using Point-of-Care Ultrasonography: Image Acquisition and Assessment
Published on: July 26, 2024
Range and Consistency of Reported Outcomes in Interventional Studies involving Frail Inpatients: A Systematic Review
Dihua Wu1, Emily H Gordon1,2, Sarah Martin1
1The Australian Frailty Network, Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Background And Objectives:
Many interventions have been developed to improve outcomes for frail inpatients. No reviews have comprehensively mapped out these outcomes. This paper aims to assess the range and consistency of outcomes reported in interventional studies involving frail adult inpatients and identify whether the outcomes were patient-reported.
Research Design And Methods:
A systematic review of interventional studies involving frail adult inpatients from 2000 to 2026 was conducted, using the following databases: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). All reported outcomes were extracted and catalogued to assess reporting range and consistency.
Results:
From 74 included studies, 545 outcomes were identified and categorised into 43 domains. Among 545 outcomes, physical performance was the most frequently reported domain (n = 69, 12.7%), followed by mortality/survival (n = 43, 7.9%) and quality of life (QoL) (n = 36, 6.6%). Of the 74 included studies, mortality/survival was reported in 33 studies (44.6%), followed by physical performance (n = 27; 36.5%), and QoL (n = 26; 35.1%). Nearly half of the domains (44.2%) were measured in only one to three studies, including those directly related to the hospital experience. Of the 545 outcomes, 141 (25.9%) were classified as patient-reported outcomes.
Discussion And Implications:
There was heterogeneity and inconsistency in outcomes reported across interventional studies involving frail inpatients. This limits comparability and synthesis of study findings. The development of a core outcome set informed by the priorities of patients and caregivers, alongside healthcare professionals, would enhance the consistency, relevance, and quality of frailty research and better support patient-centred care.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
01:11Guidelines for Writing Outcome
Patient outcomes reflect the patient's response to the goal rather than what the nurse aims to achieve. Terminology should be observable and measurable to avoid the reader's interpretation. The desired outcome should be realistic and achievable in the designated care timeframe. Expected outcomes should align with adjunctive therapies. The outcome should enhance care evaluation by...
01:29Nursing Interventions II: Selecting and Classifying the Nursing Interventions