Why is tractable vision loss in older people being missed? Qualitative study

Abstract Background: Hearing and vision loss in older people has proven to affect physical and mental health and increase the speed of cognitive decline. Studies have proven certain practices and aspects of staff knowledge increase the effective care of residents’ ears and eyes, yet it is not known which of these are being implemented in care homes. This study aims to identify the gaps in staff knowledge and underused practices evident in long term care homes when identifying and managing hearing and vision difficulties in older residents. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional survey design. Survey questions were informed by the existing literature and were focused on practices, staff knowledge, and other aspects that have shown to affect residents’ hearing and vision care. The survey was sent to care homes across England between November 2018 and February 2019 both via Email and in paper format for care home staff to complete. Descriptive statistics and Chi-Square analysis was used to assess the factors particularly influencing the current care being provided to care home residents. Results: A total of 400 care home staff responded from 74 care homes. The results revealed that screening tools are rarely used by staff to identify hearing and vision impairments, care homes have limited access to other assistive devices, and audiology services do not regularly assess care home residents. A majority of staff were also not entirely confident in their knowledge of ear and eye care. Responses were also affected by the respondents’ job role, length of time working in care homes and also the care home type and care home capacity revealing a lack of standardised practice and shared communication. Conclusion: This study identifies which practices known to facilitate ear and eye care are currently under used in care homes across England and what particularly staff are not knowledgeable on when it comes to ear and eye care. This can now inform future research of the areas requiring improvement to as effectively address to acknowledged slow identification and poor management of hearing and vision loss in older people residing in care homes.

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Cardiovascular disease risk prediction in older people: a qualitative study

British Journal of General Practice ◽

10.3399/bjgp.2020.1038 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. BJGP.2020.1038

Author(s):

Denise Ann Taylor ◽

Katharine Wallis ◽

Sione Feki ◽

Sione Segili Moala ◽

Manusiu He-Naua Esther Latu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Risk Assessment ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Older People ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Risk Prediction ◽

Heart Attack ◽

Clinical Decision Making ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Cvd Risk

Background: Despite cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction equations becoming more widely available for people aged 75 years and over, views of older people on CVD risk assessment are unknown. Aim: To explore older people’s views on CVD risk prediction and its assessment. Design and Setting: Qualitative study of community dwelling older New Zealanders. Methods: We purposively recruited a diverse group of older people. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Results: Thirty-nine participants (mean age 74 years) of Māori, Pacific, South Asian and European ethnicities participated in one of 26 interviews or three focus groups. Three key themes emerged, (1) Poor knowledge and understanding of cardiovascular disease and its risk assessment, (2) Acceptability and perceived benefit of knowing and receiving advice on managing personal cardiovascular risk; and (3) Distinguishing between CVD outcomes; stroke and heart attack are not the same. Most participants did not understand CVD terms but were familiar with ‘heart attack,’ ‘stroke’ and understood lifestyle risk factors for these events. Participants valued CVD outcomes differently, fearing stroke and disability which might adversely affect independence and quality of life, but being less concerned about a heart attack, perceived as causing less disability and swifter death. These findings and preferences were similar across ethnic groups. Conclusion: Older people want to know their CVD risk and how to manage it, but distinguish between CVD outcomes. To inform clinical decision making for older people, risk prediction tools should provide separate event types rather than just composite outcomes.

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