Drivers of COVID-19 Outcomes in Long-Term Care Facilities Using Multi-Level Analysis: A Systematic Review.

This study aimed to identify the individual, organizational, and environmental factors which contributed to COVID-19-related outcomes in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). A systematic review was conducted to summarize and synthesize empirical studies using a multi-level analysis approach to address the identified influential factors. Five databases were searched on 23 May 2023.

The Brain in Motion II Study: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of an aerobic exercise intervention for older adults at increased risk of dementia.

Background: There remains no effective intervention capable of reversing most cases of dementia. Current research is focused on prevention by addressing risk factors that are shared between cardiovascular disease and dementia (e.g.

Identifying what matters most for the health of older adults in Alberta: results from a James Lind Alliance Research Priority Setting Partnership.

Background: As the number of older adults continues to increase, addressing their health becomes increasingly important for both the population and the health care system. The aim of this priority setting partnership was to use direct engagement with older adults, caregivers and health care providers to identify and prioritize the most important topics on the health of older adults that should be addressed by future research.

Methods: We followed the James Lind Alliance method.

Effect of a multimethod quality improvement intervention on antipsychotic medication use among residents of long-term care.

Background: Antipsychotic medications are used to address neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with dementia. Evidence suggests that among older adults with dementia, their harms outweigh their benefits. A quality improvement initiative was conducted to address inappropriate antipsychotic medication use in long-term care (LTC) in the province of Alberta.

Implementation of an in-patient hip fracture liaison services to improve initiation of osteoporosis medication use within 1-year of hip fracture: a population-based time series analysis using the RE-AIM framework.

Unlabelled: A hip fracture liaison service that was implemented in 2 hospitals in Alberta, Canada, co-managed by a nurse and physician, was effective for improving initiation of osteoporosis medication following hip fracture.

Purpose: To examine implementation of an in-patient hip fracture liaison service (H-FLS) to improve osteoporosis medication use after hip fracture using the RE-AIM framework (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, maintenance).

Methods: Using population-based administrative data from 7 quarters before and up to 7 quarters after H-FLS implementation, we examined new starts, continued use, and overall use (new starts + continued use) of osteoporosis medication after hip fracture.

Successful implementation of a Fracture Liaison Service through effective change management: a qualitative study.

Unlabelled: We assessed the context in which a hip Fracture Liaison Service was implemented. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 21 key informants at two time points to understand organizational readiness, facilitators, and barriers to change. We identified strategies important to successful implementation, particularly in the context of change fatigue.

Barriers and facilitators to diagnosing and managing apathy in Parkinson's disease: a qualitative study.

Background: Apathy is a prominent non-motor symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD). People with apathy show a lack of emotion, passion, and motivation. Between 17 and 70% of persons with PD have apathy; the extreme heterogeneity in these estimates is due to limited heterogeneous knowledge concerning how to diagnose PD.

Enhancing the uptake of systematic reviews of effects: what is the best format for health care managers and policy-makers? A mixed-methods study.

Background: Systematic reviews are infrequently used by health care managers (HCMs) and policy-makers (PMs) in decision-making. HCMs and PMs co-developed and tested novel systematic review of effects formats to increase their use.

Methods: A three-phased approach was used to evaluate the determinants to uptake of systematic reviews of effects and the usability of an innovative and a traditional systematic review of effects format.

Barriers and Facilitators for Guidelines with Depression and Anxiety in Parkinson's Disease or Dementia.

ABSTRACTOur primary objective was to understand the barriers and facilitators associated with the implementation of high-quality clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for depression and anxiety in patients with dementia or Parkinson's disease (PD). We conducted focus groups or interviews with participants experiencing dementia or PD, their caregivers, and physicians in Calgary, Alberta, and applied the theoretical domains framework and behaviour change wheel to guide data collection and perform a framework analysis. Thirty-three physicians and seven PD patients/caregivers participated.

Impact of frailty on outcomes after discharge in older surgical patients: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Frailty is a state of vulnerability to diverse stressors. We assessed the impact of frailty on outcomes after discharge in older surgical patients.

Methods: We prospectively followed patients 65 years of age or older who underwent emergency abdominal surgery at either of 2 tertiary care centres and who needed assistance with fewer than 3 activities of daily living.

Facilitators and barriers of change toward an elder-friendly surgical environment: perspectives of clinician stakeholder groups.

Background: Current acute care surgical practices do not focus on the unique needs of older adults. Adverse outcomes in older patients result from a complex interrelationship between baseline vulnerability and insults experienced during hospitalization. The purpose of this study is to assess the organizational readiness and the barriers and facilitators for the implementation of elder-friendly interventions in the acute care of unplanned abdominal surgery patients.

A Critical Discussion of Patient Engagement in Research.

Patients are increasingly expected to take a more involved role in research. Funding for some projects now requires incorporating patients' viewpoints or involvement in research processes. While intended to achieve commendable goals, it is important to critically assess the means used to achieve these aims.

Stakeholder Meeting: Integrated Knowledge Translation Approach to Address the Caregiver Support Gap.

Family caregivers are an integral and increasingly overburdened part of the health care system. There is a gap between what research evidence shows is beneficial to caregivers and what is actually provided. Using an integrated knowledge translation approach, a stakeholder meeting was held among researchers, family caregivers, caregiver associations, clinicians, health care administrators, and policy makers.

Guidelines for dementia or Parkinson's disease with depression or anxiety: a systematic review.

Background: Depression and anxiety remain under-diagnosed and under-treated in those with neurologic diseases such as dementia or Parkinson's Disease (PD). Our objectives were to first, to provide a synthesis of high quality guidelines available for the identification and management of depression or anxiety in those with dementia or PD. Second, to identify areas for improvement for future guidelines.

Evaluation of the antipsychotic medication review process at four long-term facilities in Alberta.

Purpose: The goal of this evaluation was to understand how four long-term care (LTC) facilities in Alberta have implemented medication reviews for the Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics (AUA) initiative. We aimed to determine how interprofessional (IP) collaboration was incorporated in the antipsychotic medication reviews and how the reviews had been sustained.

Methods: Four LTC facilities in Alberta participated in this evaluation.

Measuring Resource Utilization: A Systematic Review of Validated Self-Reported Questionnaires.

A variety of methods may be used to obtain costing data. Although administrative data are most commonly used, the data available in these datasets are often limited. An alternative method of obtaining costing is through self-reported questionnaires.

Effect of Nutrients, Dietary Supplements and Vitamins on Cognition: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Observational studies have suggested that various nutrients, dietary supplements, and vitamins may delay the onset of age-associated cognitive decline and dementia. We systematically reviewed recent randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of nutritional interventions on cognitive performance in older non-demented adults.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for articles published between 2003 and 2013.

Optimizing senior's surgical care - Elder-friendly Approaches to the Surgical Environment (EASE) study: rationale and objectives.

Background: It is estimated that seniors (≥65 years old) account for >50% of acute inpatient hospital days and are presenting for surgical evaluation of acute illness in increasing numbers. Unfortunately, conventional acute care models rarely take into account needs of the elderly population. The failure to consider these special needs have resulted in poor outcomes, longer lengths of hospital stay and have likely increased the need for institutional care.