METHODS: Participants (n = 202) were aged ≥65 years with two or more falls or one injurious fall in the past year, whereas controls (n = 156) included volunteers aged ≥65 years with no falls in the past year. A detailed medication history was obtained alongside demographic data. Polypharmacy was defined as "regular use of five or more prescription drugs." FRID were identified as cardiovascular agents, central nervous system drugs, analgesics and endocrine drugs; multiple FRID were defined as two or more FRID. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to adjust for confounders.
RESULTS: The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was independently associated with an increased risk of falls. Univariate analyses showed both polypharmacy (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.39-3.56; P = 0.001) and the use of two or more FRID (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.9-4.5; P = 0.0001) were significantly more likely amongst fallers. After adjustment for age, sex and comorbidities, blood pressure, and physical performance scores, polypharmacy was no longer associated with falls (OR 1.6, 95% CI 0.9-2.9; P = 0.102), whereas the consumption of two or more FRID remained a significant predictor for falls (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.4-5.3; P = 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Among high risk fallers, the use of two or more FRID was an independent risk factor for falls instead of polypharmacy. Our findings will inform clinical practice in terms of medication reviews among older adults at higher risk of falls. Future intervention studies will seek to confirm whether avoidance or withdrawal of multiple FRID reduces the risk of future falls. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 463-470.
METHOD: A cross-sectional study using the Safety Attitude Questionnaire (SAQ) self-administered electronically in the English and Malay languages to evaluate safety culture domains. A positive percentage agreement scores of 60% was considered satisfactory. Comparisons were made between doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, nursing assistants and support staff.
RESULTS: Of 6562 respondents, 5724 (80.4%) completed the questionnaire; 3930 (74.5%) women, 2263 (42.9%) nurses, and 1812 (34.2%) had 6-10 years of working experience. The mean overall positive percentage agreement scores were 66.2 (range = 31.1 to 84.7%), with job satisfaction (72.3% ± 21.9%) and stress recognition (58.3 ± 25.6%) representing the highest and lowest mean domain scores, respectively. Differences were observed between all five job categories. Linear regression analyses revealed that the other four job categories scored lower in teamwork, safety climate, job satisfaction and working conditions compared to nurses.
CONCLUSIONS: The overall mean SAQ score was above the satisfactory level, with unsatisfactory percentage agreement scores in the stress recognition domain. Interventions to improve patient safety culture should be developed, focusing on stress management.
METHODS: The Q methodology was used where 37 opinion statements were ranked in order of importance in a unimodal shaped grid. Results were explored using the Centroids factor extraction and Varimax rotation.
RESULTS: Four-three persons living with haemodialysis, mean age± SD= 56.58 ± 10.22 years, participated in the study. Five-factors were identified: living in the present, family preference, self preservation, power vs. control and autonomy in decision making, loaded by eleven, four, four, three and three participants with 16 individuals not loading significantly and two were confounded. Preferences for remaining positive in the face of illness through a healthy lifestyle and preserving relationships and autonomy were demonstrated.
CONCLUSIONS: End-of-life discussions are potentially inhibited by preferences to live for the present which should be explored in future studies.
PRACTICE IMPLICATION: Statement sets may be used to help facilitate end-of-life discussions through identification of opinion groups. Establishing preferences may guide identification of those willing to initiate discussions.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential relationship between falls and diabetes in older persons and identify differences in risk factors of falls among older persons with and without diabetes using the first wave dataset of the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research (MELoR) study.
METHODOLOGY: Community dwelling adults aged ≥ 55 years were selected through stratified random sampling from three parliamentary constituencies in greater Kuala Lumpur. Baseline data was obtained through computer-assisted, home-based interviews. The presence of falls was established by enquiring about falls in the preceding 12 months. Diabetes was defined as self-reported, physician-diagnosed diabetes, diabetes medication use and an HbA1c of ≥ 6.3%.
RESULTS: Diabetes was present in 44.4% of the overall 1610 participants. The prevalence for fall among older diabetics was 25.6%. Recurrent falls (odds ratio (OR) 1.65; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-2.57) was more common among diabetics. Following adjustment for potential confounders, osteoporosis (OR 2.58; 95% CI 1.31-5.08) and dizziness (OR 1.50; 95% CI 1.01-2.23) were independent risk factors for falls. Better instrumental activities of daily living scores were protective against falls (OR 0.75; 95% CI 0.58-0.97).
CONCLUSION: The presence of osteoporosis and dizziness was associated with an increased risk of falls among older diabetics. These findings will need to be confirmed in future prospective follow-up of this cohort.
DESIGN: Semi-structured, qualitative interviews.
SETTINGS: A teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
PARTICIPANTS: A total of 17 healthcare professionals aged 23-43 years, 82% women.
RESULTS: Thematic analysis revealed five themes that represent HCPs' perceptions in relation to the usage of PEG feeding: 1) knowledge of HCPs, 2) communication, 3) understanding among patients, and 4) financial and affordability.
CONCLUSION: The rationale for reluctance towards PEG feeding observed in this regions was explained by lack of education, knowledge, communication, team work, and financial support. Future studies should assess the effects of educational programmes among HCPs and changes in policies to promote affordability on the utilization of PEG feeding in this region.
METHODS: We searched Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science and PubMed databases through to December 2013 using the terms "percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy", "gastrostomy", "PEG", "nasogastric", "nasogastric tube", "nasogastric feeding" and "intubation". We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs which compared PEG with NG feeding in individuals with non-stroke dysphagia.
RESULTS: 9 studies involving 847 participants were included in the final analysis, including two randomized trials. Pooled analysis indicated no significant difference in the risk of pneumonia [relative risk (RR) = 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.87-1.60] and overall complications [relative risk (RR) = 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.63-1.02] between PEG and NG feeding. A meta-analysis was not possible for mortality and nutritional outcomes, but three studies suggested improved mortality outcomes with PEG feeding while two out of three studies reported PEG feeding to be better from a nutritional perspective.
CONCLUSIONS: Firm conclusions could not be derived on whether PEG feeding is beneficial over NG feeding in older persons with non-stroke dysphagia, as previously published literature were unclear or had a high risk of bias. A well-designed and adequately powered RCT, which includes carer strain and quality of life as outcome measures is therefore urgently needed.