Pilot implementation of the mod‐REFS frailty screening tool in an Australian home care provider to improve client health and well‐being.

Objective: Frailty refers to increased vulnerability and decreased resilience with associated increased risk of adverse health outcomes. Frailty mostly affects older adults; hence, early identification is necessary to prevent further decline. To help optimise health and well‐being, we aimed to imple...

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Publicado en:Australasian Journal on Ageing Vol. 44; no. 2; pp. 1 - 11
Autores principales: Saleem, Ahsan, Elder, Kylie, Smedley, Pamela, Ogrin, Rajna, Lowthian, Judy A.
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Jun2025
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jun2025
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      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
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        atl: Pilot implementation of the mod‐REFS frailty screening tool in an Australian home care provider to improve client health and well‐being.
      aug:
        au:
          Saleem, Ahsan
          Elder, Kylie
          Smedley, Pamela
          Ogrin, Rajna
          Lowthian, Judy A.
        affil: Bolton Clarke Research Institute, Melbourne Victoria,, Australia
      sug:
        subj:
          Frailty Syndrome Diagnosis
          Frailty Syndrome Psychosocial Factors
          Frail Elderly
          Geriatric Assessment Methods
          Home Health Care Australia
          Health Screening
          Program Evaluation
          Health Services for Older Persons
          Implementation Science
          Health Personnel
          Quality Improvement
          Gerontologic Care
          Human
          Male
          Female
          Aged
          Aged, 80 and Over
          Pilot Studies
          Predictive Value of Tests
          Queensland
          Victoria
          Australia
          Interprofessional Relations
          Nursing Care Plans
          Cognition Disorders
          Depression
          Health Literacy
          Scales
          Surveys
          Psychological Well-Being
          Aged: 65+ years
          Aged, 80 & over
          Male
          Female
      ab: Objective: Frailty refers to increased vulnerability and decreased resilience with associated increased risk of adverse health outcomes. Frailty mostly affects older adults; hence, early identification is necessary to prevent further decline. To help optimise health and well‐being, we aimed to implement a holistic frailty screening tool, the modified Reported Edmonton Frail Scale (mod‐REFS) within an Australian aged and community home care provider. Methods: The Implementation Framework for Aged Care guided implementation and evaluation, including co‐design with key stakeholders. Clinical (nurses and allied health) and non‐clinical (personal care workers) home care staff administered the mod‐REFS in a pilot. Evaluation of feasibility, acceptability and fidelity of the tool was undertaken using administrative data alongside a staff survey. Results: Between July and October 2023, the mod‐REFS was completed for 218 clients from Queensland and Victoria, with almost two‐thirds (n = 142, 65%) identified as either prefrail (n = 57, 26%) or frail (n = 85, 39%). A greater percentage were prefrail and frail in Victoria than in Queensland. The staff survey (n = 27) identified that the mod‐REFS was considered helpful by most (n = 15, 55%); quick, easy to use, concise, very practical; and able to identify frailty levels and other important issues such as depression. Most staff (n = 23, 85%) required no training to use the tool. Conclusions: Implementing the mod‐REFS to identify prefrailty or frailty was feasible and acceptable when administered by a range of home care staff. Implementation requires input from all stakeholders. Early identification and intervention could prevent deterioration and improve well‐being of those receiving home care services.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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