Pre-hospital assessment of minor trauma in the older adult (Silver MinT)

Nicholson, Helen; Voss, Sarah; Benger., Jonathan

Abstract

The UK population is growing and getting older; in 2018 there were nearly 12 million people aged 65 and above in the UK. The rate of people living with dementia is also increasing, with figures suggesting that 1 in 14 people over the age of 65 (7%) and 1 in 6 people over the age of 80 (17%) live with dementia in the UK. Dementia can complicate patient assessment, and it is recognised that significant injuries are often missed or “under-triaged” in older adults.
Delayed diagnosis and missed injuries can worsen the severity of the injury and result in long-term disability, as well as increase the risk of morbidity, mortality and the associated health and care costs.
While much of the research on the “under-triage” of older adults has focussed on major trauma and the need for appropriate diversion to major trauma centres, there is less evidence relating to initial clinical assessment, injury identification and the decision-making of pre-hospital clinicians in cases of minor trauma or injury in this patient group. This presentation will discuss the rational for, and planned research to investigate predictors of injury requiring A&E attendance or hospital admission for minor trauma in older adults. This will include an exploration of the ways in which we might improve the identification and timely treatment of injuries in older adults, and how this may lead to a reduction in the admissions, morbidity, mortality and costs that are associated with delayed or missed treatment in this growing patient group.

• Presentation Conference Type: Other
• Conference Name: British Society of Gerontology Annual Conference
• Start Date: Jul 1, 2020
• End Date: Jul 3, 2020
• Deposit Date: May 11, 2022
• Keywords: Pre-hospital; Paramedic; EMS; Trauma
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/9096293