Identifying elder abuse & neglect among family caregiving dyads: A cross sectional study of psychometric properties of the QualCare scale

Background/objectivesUniversal screening for elder abuse and neglect is a current controversy in geriatrics, fueled by the lack of evidence on valid and reliable instruments. Since each U.S. State and many other countries have their own legal definitions of what constitutes elder abuse and neglect, this further complicates instrument development and clinical assessment. The purpose of this paper is to present data on the sensitivity and specificity of the QualCare Scale, an instrument with utility in detecting clinically significant elder abuse and neglect among older adults receiving care at home.DesignData used in this analysis were collected during a training program in which trainees completed assessments (N = 80) of standardized case scenarios of caregiving dyads. Trainees completed the QualCare Scale during each assessment.SettingThis training program, including the assessments of the standardized case scenarios, was completed using a custom designed virtual-reality platform. Trainees were able to interact with the environment, older adult and caregiver within the case scenario.ParticipantsThirty-six nurses and social workers from two Michigan Medicaid Waiver Sites participated in the training program. Each participant assessed between one and five scenarios, yielding the sample of 80 assessments used in this analysis.MeasurementsThe research team designed each standardized case scenario to reflect whether or not the QualCare Scale subscale score should indicate reportable elder abuse and neglect per the State statute. Accordingly, the research team’s QualCare Scale scores for each scenario were used as the gold standard criterion of clinical significance for comparison against the participant’s assessment scores.ResultsSensitivity and specificity for each of the six QualCare subscales was determined. Overall, the subscales had high sensitivity (≥0.811) but a wide range for specificity (0.167–1.000).ConclusionThe QualCare Scale can be an effective tool in detecting clinically significant elder abuse and neglect among older adults receiving care at home. This tool is suitable and feasible for use by practitioners working in home care. The QualCare Scale score indicating clinically significant or reportable elder abuse and neglect can be raised or lowered to be consistent with State or Country statutes, or simply used to create appropriate care plans to support caregiving. Findings from the QualCare Scale can support the multidisciplinary team in planning for and evaluating preventative interventions.     

Domestic Violence in Later Life: An Overview for Health Care Providers

ABSTRACT

Domestic violence is a significant problem that adversely affects the health and safety of millions of women throughout their life-span. Most cases of what is considered elder abuse occurs at home rather than in institutions, and the evidence suggests that only 1 in 5 cases are recognized. Frequently the perpetrator is a spouse, adult child, or other family member. Given the demographics of aging women and their longer life expectancies, clinicians are increasingly likely to see patients whose injuries or poor health status are caused or affected by abusive relationships. Improving the ability of physicians to identify domestic violence is an important skill needed for establishing comprehensive intervention and prevention efforts. In addition to conducting universal screening of all female patients, using clinical and behavioral indicators is a critical component of the intervention.     

Domestic violence against elderly with disability

Abuse against elders with disabilities is a growing problem as the world population ages. Though they require mandatory reporting, these cases are most frequently not detected or not reported by health professionals for a variety of reasons, including the difficulty of making an accurate diagnosis. By performing a retrospective analysis of alleged domestic violence cases against elders with moderate or severe disability, presented to medical forensic examination at the North Branch of the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Portugal, in Porto, between 2005 and 2013 (n = 70), we aimed to improve our knowledge of some demographic and forensic characteristics of these cases as well as improve their detection and prevention. The most frequently reported type of abuse was physical (86%), allegedly perpetrated by male abusers (63%) living with their victims (90%), who were most commonly their children (47%) or partners (49%; when victims are married). The victims were most frequently female (63%) who had motor disabilities (49%) and presented a history of previous episodes of abuse in 74% of cases; however, only 28% were previously reported. The physical consequences were most frequently minor injuries (95%) with permanent consequences (scars) in only 6.8% of the cases. The injuries were multiple in the majority of the cases (64%), and the preferred locations were the head and neck (75%). Elderly females with motor disabilities appear to have a greatest risk of domestic violence, which translates, most frequently, into multiple injuries that are mainly in the head and neck.     

Factors influencing decision-making by social care and health sector professionals in cases of elder financial abuse

This study aimed to identify the factors that have the greatest influence on UK social care and health sector professionals’ certainty that an older person is being financially abused, their likelihood of intervention, and the type of action most likely to be taken. A factorial survey approach, applying a fractional factorial design, was used. Health and social care professionals (n = 152) viewed a single sample of 50 elder financial abuse case vignettes; the vignettes contained seven pieces of information (factors). Following multiple regression analysis, incremental F tests were used to compare the impact of each factor on judgements. Factors that had a significant influence on judgements of certainty that financial abuse was occurring included the older person’s mental capacity and the nature of the financial problem suspected. Mental capacity accounted for more than twice the variance in likelihood of action than the type of financial problem. Participants from social care were more likely to act and chose more actions compared to health sector participants. The results are discussed in relation to a bystander intervention model. The impact of the older person’s mental capacity on decision-making suggests the need for training to ensure action is also taken in cases where older people have full mental capacity and are being abused. Training also needs to highlight the more subtle types of financial abuse, the types that appear not to lead to certainty or action.     

老年结肠癌并肠梗阻的围手术期处理效果分析

目的探讨老年结肠癌引起急性肠梗阻的围手术期处理方案,分析不同方案的治疗效果。方法选取住院治疗的老年结肠癌引发急性肠梗阻患者78例病历资料,分析不同治疗方案的临床转归及并发症。结果右半结肠切除术、右半结肠及横结肠切除术、横结肠切除术并发症发生率分别为26.7%、27.2%和30.0%,组间比较无显著差异(P>0.05)。左半结肠切除I期吻合术与左半结肠切除、近端造瘘Ⅱ期肿瘤切除吻合术的并发症发生率分别为28.1%、30.0%,左半结肠Ⅰ期、Ⅱ期手术并发症发生率无显著差异(P>0.05)。右半结肠I期切除、左半结肠I期切除与左半结肠切除、近端造瘘,Ⅱ期肿瘤切除吻合术后复发、转移率,1年死亡率无显著差异(P>0.05)。结论围手术期合理选择治疗方案,老年左半结肠癌患者可耐受I期切除吻合术,而且不增加术后并发症的发生和近期死亡率。     

管状胃在高龄食管癌和贲门癌根治术中的应用

目的 总结70岁以上高龄食管癌、贲门癌根治手术中应用管状胃代食管的手术操作方法, 分析术后肺部并发症的发生及术后生存的情况。方法 回顾分析30例70岁以上高龄食管癌和贲门癌患者临床资料, 术中应用管状胃代替食管, 统计分析术后发生的肺部并发症和随访资料。结果 术中保留胃右动脉及分支的管状胃制作成功, 23例术后无明显肺部并发症发生, 4例出现明显肺部感染, 积极治疗后康复出院;2例术后气管切开, 呼吸机辅助呼吸, 1周后顺利脱离呼吸机;1例较长时间呼吸机辅助呼吸, 出现吻合口瘘, 最终死亡。术后随访21例, 无明显反流性食管炎发生, 术后1月后生活基本自理。1、3年生存率分别为42.8%(9/21)和19.0%(4/21)。结论 应用管状胃代食管, 对高龄食管癌和贲门癌患者, 可以有效预防吻合口瘘, 减少胸腔胃对心肺功能的影响, 减少反流性食管炎的发生, 提高患者术后生存质量。     

晚发型抑郁症伴轻度认知损害患者脑白质胆碱能通路的对照研究

目的：对伴轻度认知损害（ MCI）的晚发型抑郁症（ LOD）患者脑白质胆碱能通路的改变进行对照性研究,并分析其与患者认知功能各领域受损的关系。方法：对伴MCI的LOD患者（研究组,n＝25）磁共振成像的胆碱能通路高信号评分（ CHIPS）,同时评定蒙特利尔认知评估量表（ MoCA）,分析CHIPS评分与MoCA各认知领域的关系;并与不伴MCI的LOD患者（对照组,n＝25）进行对照。结果：①研究组MoCA总分、视空间与执行功能、延迟记忆、注意及工作记忆得分,均显著低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（t＝2．091～2．398,P＝0．041～0．028）;②研究组CHIPS显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义（t＝2．097,P＝0．042）;③研究组CHIPS评分与MoCA总分、视空间与执行功能、延迟记忆得分显著负相关（r＝－0．434,－0．398,－0．483;P＜0．05）。结论：脑白质胆碱能通路受损,在LOD患者MCI的发生中可能起了一定的作用,尤其与其视空间与执行功能、记忆及延迟记忆的损害有关。     

琥珀酸美托洛尔缓释片在高龄合并快速永久性心房颤动治疗中的有效性和安全性分析

目的分析琥珀酸美托洛尔缓释片在高龄合并快速永久性心房颤动治疗中的有效性和安全性。方法选取70岁以上伴有快速永久性心房颤动40例。在基础治疗上加用小剂量酒石酸美托洛尔片逐渐达到靶剂量,2周后按照1∶1更换为琥珀酸美托洛尔缓释片,继续观察2周。分别记录患者症状、清晨静息心率,检查B型尿钠肽、动态心电图及动态血压并进行分析。结果琥珀酸美托洛尔缓释片的治疗靶剂量为（66.25±18.75） mg。患者在琥珀酸美托洛尔缓释片治疗后症状、24 h平均心率、清晨静息心率、24 h平均血压、B型尿钠肽均较用药前明显改善,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。琥珀酸美托洛尔缓释片当使用到靶剂量时最长R-R间期无明显延长,患者未出现不适症状。结论在高龄合并快速永久性心房颤动治疗中,琥珀酸美托洛尔缓释片有着良好的临床疗效和安全性,值得临床应用。