Eldra fólk á bráðadeild: íslenskar niðurstöður úr fjölþjóðarannsókn InterRAI

Translated title of the contribution: Old people in the emergency department; Icelandic results from the InterRAI multinational ED study

Guðrún Þuríður Höskuldsdóttir, Ólöf Guoný Geirsdóttir, Inga Dóra Kristjánsdóttir, Hjördís Jóhannesdóttir, Bára Benediktsdóttir, Bryndís Guojónsdóttir, Ingibjörg Magnúsdóttir, Sólrún Rúnarsdóttir, Pálmi V. Jónsson*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Introduction: Old people attend emergency departments (ED's) in increasing numbers. Old people have age related changes in all organ systems and tend to have multiple chronic diseases, be on multiple medications and often have physical and cognitive functional impairments. Hence, they have complex health and social service needs. The purpose of this study was to describe function and geriatric syndromes of old people who present at Landspitali Emergency Department, Iceland, with comparison to ED's in six other countries. Material and methods: A prospective descriptive study of people (<75 year's) attending ED's in seven countries, including Iceland. The Inter RAI assessment tool for ED's was used by nurses to assess participants. Results: At Landspitali ED, 202 individuals were assessed, of whom 55% were women. Of the 202 individuals, 34% attended the ED within 90 days and of those 48% lived alone. On admission to the ED, 59% had physical or cognitive functional impairment; 13% had only cognitive impairment and 36% were unable to walk without assistance. Caregiver distress was identified in 28% and 11% felt overwhelming burden. From the ED, 46% were admitted to the hospital. Compared with foreign results greater number of Icelandic participants lived alone and caregiver's distress was slightly higher (28% vs. 18%). Fewer individuals in Iceland were admitted to a hospital and Iceland had higher admission rate to rehabilitation compared with the overall group. Conclusion: Geriatric syndromes and functional impairment afflicted majority of old people who attended the Landspitali ED. These observations should be taken into account in ED design and care planning for old people to maximize efficiency, safety and quality.

Translated title of the contributionOld people in the emergency department; Icelandic results from the InterRAI multinational ED study
Original languageIcelandic
Pages (from-to)19-24
Number of pages6
JournalLaeknabladid
Volume100
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

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