AGE Research Group, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust and Faculty of Medical Sciences Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
BMC Geriatr. 2024 Oct 14;24(1):831. doi: 10.1186/s12877-024-05406-2.
Older adults living with multiple long-term conditions (MLTC, also known as multimorbidity) and frailty are more likely to experience a deterioration in their health requiring specialist referral or hospital admission than individuals without these syndromes. However, this group of older people are underserved by research meaning that there is a limited evidence base for their care. This study therefore aimed (1) to determine if it is feasible to recruit and collect quantitative data to describe the health and lifestyle of older adults living with MLTC, frailty and a recent deterioration in health and (2) to assess if taking part in research is acceptable to this group of older adults.
Participants were approached and recruited for this study via an Older People's Medicine Day Unit in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. The study took a mixed methods approach, involving quantitative and qualitative data collection. To determine the feasibility of carrying out research in this group, we quantified recruitment rate and collected data on the health and lifestyle, including diet and physical activity, of the participants. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were undertaken to assess acceptability. Two separate interviews were carried out focusing on involving older adults in research and the participants' experiences of taking part in the research. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis.
Fifty patients were approached to participate in the study with twenty-nine (58%) successfully recruited. It was feasible to collect information to describe the health and lifestyle of these older adults who demonstrated very low levels of physical activity. Participants reported that taking part in the research was acceptable to them with interview analysis generating three themes (1) developing a meaningful partnership, (2) enabling factors to participation: research at home with flexible delivery and (3) social and psychological benefits of research participation.
It is feasible and acceptable to recruit and carry out research with this underserved group of older adults. Participants found taking part in this research to be acceptable and reported overall positive experiences of their involvement in the study and indicated that they would be willing to contribute to further research in the future.
患有多种长期疾病（MLTC，也称为多病共存）和衰弱的老年人比没有这些综合征的个体更容易出现健康恶化，需要专科转介或住院治疗。然而，这组老年人的研究服务不足，因此他们的护理证据基础有限。因此，这项研究旨在：（1）确定招募和收集描述患有 MLTC、衰弱和近期健康恶化的老年人健康和生活方式的定量数据是否可行；（2）评估参与研究是否被这群老年人接受。
参与者是通过英国泰恩河畔纽卡斯尔的老年人医学日病房单元接触并招募参加这项研究的。该研究采用混合方法，包括定量和定性数据收集。为了确定在该人群中开展研究的可行性，我们量化了招募率，并收集了参与者的健康和生活方式（包括饮食和体育活动）数据。进行了半结构化的定性访谈，以评估可接受性。进行了两次单独的访谈，重点是让老年人参与研究和参与者参与研究的经验。使用主题分析对访谈进行分析。
有 50 名患者被邀请参加这项研究，其中 29 名（58%）成功入选。收集信息来描述这些老年人的健康和生活方式是可行的，他们的身体活动水平非常低。参与者报告说，他们参与研究是可以接受的，访谈分析产生了三个主题：（1）建立有意义的伙伴关系；（2）参与的促进因素：在家进行的灵活研究交付；（3）研究参与的社会和心理益处。
招募和开展这项服务不足的老年人群体的研究是可行和可接受的。参与者发现参与这项研究是可以接受的，并报告了他们参与研究的总体积极体验，并表示他们将来愿意为进一步的研究做出贡献。
