Frailty and Complexity Among Home Service Recipients (fraXity)

School of Health Sciences Geneva

Status: Completed

Conditions: Frail Elderly Syndrome

Treatments: Other: interRAI-HC assessments

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03883425

AGP 84770

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the study is to develop frailty and complexity computation algorithms based on the French version of the interRAI-HC and, in doing so, to provide homecare nurses with valid and reliable screening tools for their routine practice. By relying on a prospective observational case-control longitudinal study, the study intends to assess the predictive validity of the proposed indices with respect to undesirable health outcomes. Repeated measurement occasions, separated by 6-month intervals, will also allow for estimation of intra-individual change in frailty and complexity. In the study, elders living in the community and aged 65 or older are the target population, and three samples will be considered based on the a priori risks of adverse outcomes (case 1: formal home service recipients; case 2: formal home care recipients; control: free of formal home care or service). These groups will be compared on the observed rates of frailty and complexity and on their evolution over time. Results will allow for identification of subgroups of the aged population for whom early screening of frailty and complexity appears most relevant. Based on the findings, practice guideline will be proposed. They will entail the interpretation of the scores and recommendations for mounting adapted preventive strategies. Finally, the study will contribute to enhancing knowledge on the relation between frailty, a well-known concept in gerontology, and complexity, a concept increasingly referred to in the care literature but that still deserves operational and consensual definitions.

Enrollment: 231 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• living in the community (private home)
• resident of Canton Geneva, Switzerland
• ability to hold a conversation in French (expression, comprehension)
• oriented in time and space

Exclusion criteria

• living in hospital / nursing home
• not resident of Canton Geneva, Switzerland
• not fluent in French
• disoriented in time and space
• person under tutorship

Trial design

231 participants in 3 patient groups

Case 1: formal home service recipients

Description:

Adults aged 65 or older living at home who receive formal home service (household, meal delivery, transportation, shopping) at least one a week

Treatment:

Other: interRAI-HC assessments

Case 2: formal home care recipients

Description:

Adults aged 65 or older living at home who receive formal home care (shower/bath nursing assistance, nursing care) at least once a week

Treatment:

Other: interRAI-HC assessments

Control: free of formal home care or home service

Description:

Adults aged 65 or older living at home who do not receive formal home care or home service.

Treatment:

Other: interRAI-HC assessments