ID-5184 Wonca Abstracts supplement A-K 13-10-23 - Flipbook - Page 317
WONCA 2023 Supplement 1: WONCA 2023 abstracts (A–K)
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Identifying and providing management support for people at
risk of frailty in general practice
Dr Jennifer Job1, Debra Clark2, Julia Arapova3, Caroline Nicholson1
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Centre for Health System Reform and Integration, 2North Syndey Primary Health Network,
Brisbane South Primary Health Network
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Frailty, associated with increasing age and characterised by diminished strength and function, often
remains undetected. Presentations of frailty frequently occur when a seemingly minor event results in
a significant health crisis and unnecessary hospital admission, with substantial associated healthcare
costs. Evidence suggests that targeted therapies may decrease the negative outcomes associated
with being frail. In Australia frailty affects up to 25% of people aged ≥70 years, yet a standardised
assessment of frailty among patients attending general practice is not routine. The FRAIL scale,
developed and validated internationally as a screening tool, requires five simple questions relating to
fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illnesses and weight loss to be answered to identify risk of frailty. Our
audit of 313 patients aged ≥75 years who had completed annual health assessments in 11 Australian
general practices found only 2% had been assessed for all five FRAIL scale components.
To facilitate use of the FRAIL scale, a FRAIL scale tool has been developed which can be built into the
general practice clinical support system. Our pilot study is investigating: (1) the feasibility/adoption of
the tool by general practices recruited from two Australian regions (North Sydney/Brisbane South); (2)
access to resources/referral options in the community to support identified need; and (3) acceptability
to providers/patients/carers of the risk of frailty assessment and management approach. The tool has
been adopted by 17 general practices recruited from the two regions and is a feasible, acceptable
method to identify risk of frailty and provide management suggestions.
This study is providing an understanding of the services required in the community to support those
who are at risk of frailty. A reduced burden to the hospital system, improved health outcomes and
quality of life for older people are potential benefits of an effective tool used routinely in general practice
to assess frailty risk.
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