Use of the QuickSort with older adults whose lifestyle decision-making capacity is being questioned

Autor: A. M. Foran, J. L. Mathias, S. C. Bowden
Rok vydání: 2022
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. 29:480-491
ISSN: 1469-7661
1355-6177
DOI: 10.1017/s1355617722000479
Popis: Objectives:Cognitive impairment affects older adults’ capacity to live independently and make lifestyle decisions (lifestyle decision-making capacity; LS-DMC). Cognitive screens and clinical interviews are often used to assess people’s need for living-supports prior to conducting comprehensive LS-DMC assessments in busy clinical settings. This study investigated whether the QuickSort – a brief new cognitive screen – provides efficient and accurate information regarding patients’ LS-DMC when initially interviewed.Methods:This is an observational and diagnostic accuracy study of older inpatients (≥60 years) consecutively referred for neuropsychological assessment of LS-DMC (n = 124). The resources required by inpatients with questionable LS-DMC were quantified (length of hospital stay, living-supports). QuickSort scores, patient background information, and two common cognitive screens were used to differentiate between older inpatients (n = 124) who lacked (64%)/did not-lack (36%) LS-DMC.Results:Hospitalizations averaged 49 days, with 62% of inpatients being readmitted within one year. The QuickSort differentiated between those lacking/not-lacking LS-DMC better than two common cognitive screens and patient information. The likelihood that inpatients lacked LS-DMC increased by a factor of 65.26 for QuickSort scores Conclusions:Older adult inpatients with questionable LS-DMC have a high risk of extended hospitalization and readmission. The QuickSort provides time-efficient and sensitive information regarding patients’ LS-DMC, making it a viable alternative to longer cognitive screens that are used at the initial interview stage.
Databáze: OpenAIRE