Center for Health Services and Nursing Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.
Int J Nurs Stud. 2012 Jul;49(7):842-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2011.11.015. Epub 2011 Dec 23.
Inpatient geriatric consultation teams are multidisciplinary teams that advice and sensitize health care professionals in the hospital for the care of older patients. Despite the lack of clear evidence that these teams are effective, they were rated highly relevant and introduced in Belgian hospitals in 2007.
To evaluate the implementation and performance of geriatric consultation teams and geriatric resource nurses (GRNs) in Belgium.
A cross-sectional survey was performed in March and April 2010.
Acute hospitals.
Sixty-six hospitals completed the questionnaire (response rate of 68.8%); 63 geriatric consultation teams were included.
A newly developed questionnaire was sent to all hospitals. The head of the geriatric department completed the general parts of the questionnaire. The other parts, covering the organization of the consultation teams and geriatric resource nurses, respectively, were completed by the geriatrician or the head nurse of the geriatric consultation team. All data were analysed in a descriptive manner.
The mean number of full time equivalents (FTE) per consultation team was 4.3 (SD±1.3; range 1.9-10.1). The nurse, represented by a mean of 1.7 FTE (SD±0.8), was a core member in almost all teams (n=60; 98.4%). The occupational therapist, geriatrician, dietician, psychologist and speech therapist were core members in more than 59% of the teams. Twenty-seven teams (42.9%) estimated that more than 75% of the patients (≥75 years) were screened for having a geriatric profile. This screening was mostly performed using the Triage Risk Screening Tool (n=23) or the Identification of Seniors At Risk (n=20). A positive screening automatically resulted in a request for a geriatric consultation team intervention in 45 teams (71.4%). Thirty-five teams (55.5%) had an advisory role only, while the other 28 teams (44.5%) had both advisory and executive roles. The median number of patients for whom recommendations were formulated per year, was 423 (Q1=230; Q3=633). Most participants rated the function of GRNs as 'poor' or 'bad'.
To increase their impact, inpatient geriatric consultation teams focus on frail older persons using screening tools for detection of high-risk patients. More intense collaboration with GRNs is essential, and the function of GRNs needs further improvement.
住院老年咨询团队是多学科团队，为医院的医疗保健专业人员提供建议和指导，以照顾老年患者。尽管缺乏明确的证据表明这些团队是有效的，但它们在 2007 年被认为在比利时的医院中具有高度相关性，并被引入。
评估比利时老年咨询团队和老年资源护士（GRN）的实施和绩效。
2010 年 3 月至 4 月进行了横断面调查。
急性医院。
66 家医院完成了问卷调查（回应率为 68.8%）；包括 63 个老年咨询团队。
向所有医院发送了一份新制定的问卷。老年科主任完成了问卷的一般部分。其他部分，分别涵盖咨询团队和老年资源护士的组织，由老年科医生或老年咨询团队护士长填写。所有数据均以描述性方式进行分析。
每个咨询团队的全职等效人数（FTE）平均为 4.3（SD±1.3；范围 1.9-10.1）。护士由 1.7 个 FTE（SD±0.8）表示，几乎是所有团队（n=60；98.4%）的核心成员。职业治疗师、老年科医生、营养师、心理学家和言语治疗师是 59%以上团队的核心成员。27 个团队（42.9%）估计有超过 75%的患者（≥75 岁）接受了老年特征筛查。这种筛查主要是使用分诊风险筛查工具（n=23）或识别高危老年人（n=20）进行的。阳性筛查自动导致 45 个团队（71.4%）请求老年咨询团队干预。35 个团队（55.5%）仅具有咨询作用，而其他 28 个团队（44.5%）具有咨询和执行作用。每年制定建议的患者中位数为 423 例（Q1=230；Q3=633）。大多数参与者将 GRN 的功能评为“差”或“不好”。
为了提高其影响力，住院老年咨询团队使用筛查工具来关注虚弱的老年人，以发现高风险患者。与 GRN 更紧密的合作是必要的，并且需要进一步改善 GRN 的功能。
