Does patient activation matter? An examination of the relationships between patient activation and healthcare use in older adults with mild frailty after discharge from an emergency department.

ObjectivePatient engagement, as measured by the Patient Activation Measure (PAM®), has been used to assess patients' ability to manage their own care. This study aimed to determine whether the PAM® could predict healthcare use in older adults aged >70years, living independently in the community with mild frailty, within 30days after emergency department (ED) discharge.MethodsA prospective single-centre observational cohort study was completed including older adults who presented to an ED.

Does the Integration of Telehealth into Occupational Therapy Practice Impact Clinical Outcomes for Hand and Upper Limb Rehabilitation? A Matched Case Control Study.

Health services are capitalizing on the rise of telehealth and seeking to develop sustainable models incorporating telehealth into standard care. Further research is required to explore the service and clinical outcomes of telehealth in occupational therapy hand and upper limb practice. This research utilized a case-control study to explore the feasibility and clinical outcomes of case matched patients who received a telehealth hybrid model versus traditional in-person care.

Older women's view on frailty and an Emergency Department evidence-based Frailty Intervention Team (FIT) program: An evaluation using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance RE-AIM framework.

Background: Older women have higher levels of frailty resulting in disability and reduced quality of life. Presentation to an Emergency Department (ED) is an opportunity to address frailty and provide tailored interventions to promote function. An ED allied health team integrated frailty assessment and interventions into care through a 'Frailty Intervention Team' (FIT) program.

Improving care for older patients visiting emergency departments. Are they receiving falls prevention guideline care?

Background: The primary objective was to examine whether the Emergency Department (ED) treatment of older adults who fall in Australia is concordant with falls prevention and management clinical guideline care recommendations.

Methods: A retrospective medical records audit was completed for patients 65years and older, who attended the ED with a fall and were discharged home. An audit tool was developed from local, national, and international falls clinical guidelines.

Barriers and facilitating factors influencing implementation of occupational therapy home assessment recommendations: A mixed methods systematic review.

Introduction: Low implementation rates of occupational therapy home assessment recommendations have previously been reported. The objective was to identify and describe the barriers and facilitating factors that influence implementation of home assessment recommendations.

Methods: A mixed methods systematic review consisting of studies involving adults living in the community who received an occupational therapy home assessment was conducted.

An observational cohort study to determine the impact of research capacity building strategies implemented in an Australian metropolitan hospital occupational therapy department.

Introduction: Research capacity building enhances the abilities of individuals and is critical within health systems for quality patient care and promotes a culture of excellence within the occupational therapy profession. A research capacity building toolkit was proposed identifying strategies to support allied health professionals to undertake research. This study evaluated participant-reported outcomes of research capacity building toolkit implementation in an occupational therapy department.

Providing fall prevention services in the emergency department: Is it effective? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To assess the effects of fall prevention services initiated in the emergency department (ED) to support patients after discharge.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. Analysis of pooled data used random-effects modelling with results presented as a risk ratio (RR).

Barriers and facilitators influencing adherence to occupational therapy home assessment recommendations: a mixed methods systematic review protocol.

Objective: To identify and describe the barriers and facilitators that influence adherence to recommendations provided as part of an occupational therapy home assessment.

Introduction: Home assessments, including environmental interventions, are commonly used by occupational therapists. Home assessment recommendations aim to support a patient's independence in their occupational roles and improve safety in the home.

Occupational therapist use of the 'Timed Up and Go' test in a Memory Clinic to compare performance between cognitive diagnoses and screen for falls risk.

Introduction: Occupational therapists assess older patients attending Memory Clinics to address multiple facets, including memory, activities of daily living function, mobility and falls risk. Identifying deficits in motor and functional abilities represents a crucial and necessary component of cognitive diagnosis. The aim of this research was to compare performance on the TUG between patients with normal (NC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia.

Australian modified Lawton's Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale contributes to diagnosing older adults with cognitive impairment.

Objective: To assess the ability of the Australian Modified Lawton's Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Scale (Modified Lawton's Scale) to screen for cognitive impairment in patients without physical or sensory deficits.

Methods: Prospective single-blind study of diagnostic accuracy.

Results: Data were available for 249 patients.

Kettle test efficacy in predicting cognitive and functional outcomes in geriatric rehabilitation.

Background/aim: Limited research has been available to support the use of the Kettle Test in a subacute rehabilitation setting with patients diagnosed with a variety of medical conditions. The Kettle Test is an occupation based performance measure designed to detect cognitive processes and function. The aim of this research was to measure the correlation between three cognitive tests, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Cognitive Functional Independence Measure (Cognitive FIM) and the Kettle Test.

Cost analysis of a brief intervention for the prevention of falls after discharge from an emergency department.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: There is considerable uncertainty around the cost-effectiveness of interventions for preventing secondary falls in older people presenting to emergency departments (ED). The objective was to complete an economic evaluation of a brief educational ED intervention aimed at preventing falls in older people post discharge.

Methods: A net cost analysis was completed from the health system perspective, using data from a controlled clinical trial, where an education intervention was compared to standard care.

Failure of falls risk screening tools to predict outcome: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: To compare the Falls Risk for Older Persons-Community Setting Screening Tool (FROP Com Screen) with the Two-Item Screening Tool in older adults presenting to the ED.

Methods: A prospective cohort study, comparing the efficacy of the two falls risk assessment tools by applying them simultaneously in a sample of hospital ED presentations.

Results: Two hundred and one patients over 65 years old were recruited.

Controlled clinical trial exploring the impact of a brief intervention for prevention of falls in an emergency department.

Objective: To establish the effectiveness of a brief intervention to prevent falls in older patients presenting to the ED post-discharge.

Methods: The present study is a prospective single-centre, quasi-randomised controlled clinical trial of a brief targeted educational intervention to prevent falls. The intervention group received brief scripted education and were advised of their percentage probability of falling in the next 6 months.

Effects of emergency department Care Coordination Team referrals in older people presenting with a fall.

Objectives: The study aims to describe the characteristics of patients presenting to an ED with a fall and evaluate multidisciplinary Care Coordination Team (CCT) referrals on patient outcomes.

Methods: A single-centred retrospective analysis of electronic data at an adult tertiary hospital was performed using data from 2004 to 2009 of presentations for patients aged 65 years or over with a fall. The primary outcome measure was representation to hospital within 30 days, comparing patients referred to CCT and those not referred.