A Geriatric Mobile Team for Nursing Home Residents: a Feasibility Pilot Study

NCT06873919 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: GerMoT40025834
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 200
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Nursing home (NH) residents have complex healthcare needs. Barriers to collaboration hinder the delivery of high-quality care in nursing homes. To bridge the gap between hospital-based and NH-based care, various innovative approaches have been proposed, including geriatric mobile teams. In Belgium, geriatric expertise has long been confined to hospital settings. Until recently, no specific organization existed for outpatient geriatric assessment, particularly for NH residents. In April 2024, the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI) introduced a new reimbursement code for geriatric consultations in NHs, promoting the development of extramural geriatric activities. However, evidence on the effectiveness of mobile geriatric teams remains limited, particularly regarding hospitalization prevention. The geriatrics department of CHU UCL Namur is implementing a one-year pilot project involving a mobile team composed of a geriatrician and a nurse to conduct geriatric assessments in the three nursing homes. This non-randomized pilot project aims to establish a new standard of care for residents selected by their general practitioner, leveraging the new reimbursement code. The project is accompanied by a clinical study assessing the feasibility, effectiveness, and acceptability of this intervention. Prospectively collected data will also help define key indicators for a future large-scale study focused on cost-effectiveness.

Conditions

Nursing Home Resident; Geriatric Assessment

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Feasability

  Immediately after the initial consultation, with follow-up assessments at 3, 6, 9, and up to 12 months post-inclusion.

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Acceptability

  Immediately after the initial consultation, with follow-up assessments at 3, 6, 9, and up to 12 months post-inclusion

• Determine the outcomes for a future full evaluation study.

  Immediately after the initial consultation, with follow-up assessments at 3, 6, 9, and up to 12 months post-inclusion

Study Arms (1)

Experimental group

Nursing home resident with a geriatric consultation at her place of residence

Other: Geriatric assessment

Interventions

Geriatric assessment OTHER

The tertiary hospital's geriatrics department is implementing a one-year mobile team composed of a geriatrician and a nurse to conduct geriatric assessments (Anamnesis and heteroanamnesis - Clinical examination - Medication review - Proposed management plan provided to the general practionner, who independently decides which recommendations to implement) in three nursing homes. This non-randomized pilot project aims to establish a new standard of care for residents selected by their primary care physician. The project is accompanied by a clinical study designed to assess the feasibility, effectiveness, and acceptability of this intervention. Prospectively collected data will also help define key indicators for a future large-scale study focusing on cost-effectiveness.

Experimental group

Eligibility Criteria

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

Study Population

The study population will be defined based on the population identified within the geriatric consultation project in nursing homes. Eligible patients present with geriatric syndromes identified by their primary care physician. They are over 70 years old and reside in one of the three nursing homes participating in the project.

You may qualify if:

• Patients aged over 70 years
• Presenting with one or more of the following conditions:
• Difficulties in establishing an advance care planning
• Medical complexity (multiple specialists, repeated hospitalizations)
• Polypharmacy
• Recurrent falls
• Unmanageable behavioral disorders
• Weight loss
• Memory impairment

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with an unstable medical condition requiring urgent care
• Patients under 70 years old
• Patients whose condition requires examinations or treatments available only in a hospital setting

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Université Catholique de Louvain: lead
• CHU UCL Namur: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

CHU UCL Namur

Yvoir, 5530, Belgium

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Geriatric Assessment

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Data Collection; Epidemiologic Methods; Investigative Techniques; Health Status; Demography; Population Characteristics; Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms; Quality of Health Care; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Epidemiologic Measurements; Public Health; Environment and Public Health

Central Study Contacts

Marie de Saint-Hubert

CONTACT

+3281424027; marie.desainthubert@chuuclnamur.uclouvain.be

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 3, 2025
• First Posted: March 13, 2025
• Study Start: March 5, 2025
• Primary Completion: February 28, 2026
• Study Completion: February 28, 2026
• Last Updated: March 13, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

BE (1)