Identification of Risk Patients in Emergency Medical Services

NCT03759314 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: §50, 27.3.2018
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 500
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background: Inadequate nutrition has been associated with growing risk of falling and impaired ability in elderly patients. Falling is a significant threat to the health of the elderly. It is estimated that one third of people over the age of 65 experience at least one falling each year. Over 60% of the falls cause serious injury or disability. Adequate nutrition increases the muscle strength of the elderly. Therefore, determining and managing the nutrition level is important for preventing falling. As far as we know emergency medical services has never before reported being a part of prevention by performing risk identification.

Conditions

Malnutrition; Falling; Cognitive Impairment

Keywords

EMS; elderly; nutrition; falling; cognitive functioning

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Identifying in the ambulance those patients who are at risk (over 3 points in a single section)

  to use a simple screening tool to find out the risk of falling, the nutritional status and the level of cognitive functioning activity when the EMS faces the elderly over the age of 70 The risk-screening tool is based on valid scales. RISK SCREENING TOOL; Risk of falling: Prediction of falls (4 items, 0-3 points) Self-reporting of falls over a 12-month period (3 items, 0-3 points) Malnutrition Risk: Home care and meal services (Yes, No) Nutritional status (4 items, 0-3 points) Effect of the diseases on nutrition (4 items, 0-3 points) Age (1 item, 1 point) Delirium and cognitive functioning: Alertness / memory / attention deficit / symptoms (4 items, 0-3 points) Complete when: \> 70 years patient The patient's physical state allows. Mostly completed during transport (no need to add actual time on scene). Possible risk points are reported at donation to the emergency department.

  Through study completion an average of 12 months

Other Outcomes (1)

• Identifying in the ambulance those patients who are at risk (total scores over sections)

  Through study completion an average of 12 months

Interventions

Observation OTHER

to use a simple screening tool to find out the risk of falling, the nutritional status and the level of cognitive functioning activity

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 70 Years - 104 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

All people over the age of 70 requiring ambulance transport will be included in the study for 4 months during 2018 in the Helsinki University hospital area.

You may qualify if:

• All people over the age of 70 requiring ambulance transport will be included in the study for 4 months during 2018.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Helsinki University Central Hospital: lead
• University of Helsinki: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Department of Emergency Medicine and Services, Helsinki University Hospital and Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki, Helsinki Usimaa, Finland

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Malnutrition; Cognitive Dysfunction

Interventions

Observation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Cognition Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Methods; Investigative Techniques

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Researcher

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 15, 2018
• First Posted: November 29, 2018
• Study Start: September 1, 2018
• Primary Completion: January 28, 2022
• Study Completion: January 28, 2022
• Last Updated: January 31, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-01

Locations

FI (1)