Enhancing Care for Hospitalized Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

J Gen Intern Med. 2012 Feb 3;

Authors: Boustani MA, Campbell NL, Khan BA, Abernathy G, Zawahiri M, Campbell T, Tricker J, Hui SL, Buckley JD, Perkins AJ, Farber MO, Callahan CM

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Approximately 40% of hospitalized older adults have cognitive impairment (CI) and are more prone to hospital-acquired complications. The Institute of Medicine suggests using health information technology to improve the overall safety and quality of the health care system. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the efficacy of a clinical decision support system (CDSS) to improve the quality of care for hospitalized older adults with CI. DESIGN: A randomized controlled clinical trial. SETTING: A public hospital in Indianapolis. POPULATION: A total of 998 hospitalized older adults were screened for CI, and 424 patients (225 intervention, 199 control) with CI were enrolled in the trial with a mean age of 74.8, 59% African Americans, and 68% female. INTERVENTION: A CDSS alerts the physicians of the presence of CI, recommends early referral into a geriatric consult, and suggests discontinuation of the use of Foley catheterization, physical restraints, and anticholinergic drugs. MEASUREMENTS: Orders of a geriatric consult and discontinuation orders of Foley catheterization, physical restraints, or anticholinergic drugs. RESULTS: Using intent-to-treat analyses, there were no differences between the intervention and the control groups in geriatric consult orders (56% vs 49%, P = 0.21); discontinuation orders for Foley catheterization (61.7% vs 64.6%, P?=?0.86); physical restraints (4.8% vs 0%, P?=?0.86), or anticholinergic drugs (48.9% vs 31.2%, P?=?0.11). CONCLUSION: A simple screening program for CI followed by a CDSS did not change physician prescribing behaviors or improve the process of care for hospitalized older adults with CI.

PMID: 22302355 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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