Brad Cannell1, Jennifer M Reingle Gonzalez1, Melvin Livingston2, Katelyn K Jetelina1, Jason Burnett3, Julie C Weitlauf4,5. 1. a Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics & Environmental Sciences , University of Texas School of Public Health , Dallas , TX , USA. 2. b Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education , Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University , Atlanta , GA , USA. 3. c The Texas Elder Abuse & Mistreatment Institute (TEAM), Forensic Assessment Center Network (FACN)-APS Division , UTHealth, McGovern Medical School , Houston , TX , USA. 4. d Women's Mental Health and Aging Core, Sierra Pacific MIRECC , VA Palo Alto Health Care System , Palo Alto , CA , USA. 5. e Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences , Stanford University School of Medicine , Palo Alto , CA , USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To pilot test the feasibility of implementing an elder abuse (EA) screening tool (DETECT) designed for medics. METHODS: Testing occurred between September 17th, 2015 and October 26th, 2015. MedStar Mobile Healthcare medics completed the DETECT tool when responding to calls for community-dwelling patients 65 years of age or older. RESULTS: The DETECT tool was used 1,248 times by 97% of medics responding to an eligible 911 call. Medics responded affirmatively to at least one screening item on 209 of the completed screenings (16.8%). Immediately following the introduction of the DETECT tool, there was an increase of 5.4 (226% above baseline) reports per month (p = 0.0056). CONCLUSIONS: The DETECT tool was easily incorporated into medic's field-based practice and resulted in an increase in medic generated reports of EA to APS. Future research designed to evaluate the tool's validity and reliability are warranted.
OBJECTIVE: To pilot test the feasibility of implementing an elder abuse (EA) screening tool (DETECT) designed for medics. METHODS: Testing occurred between September 17th, 2015 and October 26th, 2015. MedStar Mobile Healthcare medics completed the DETECT tool when responding to calls for community-dwelling patients 65 years of age or older. RESULTS: The DETECT tool was used 1,248 times by 97% of medics responding to an eligible 911 call. Medics responded affirmatively to at least one screening item on 209 of the completed screenings (16.8%). Immediately following the introduction of the DETECT tool, there was an increase of 5.4 (226% above baseline) reports per month (p = 0.0056). CONCLUSIONS: The DETECT tool was easily incorporated into medic's field-based practice and resulted in an increase in medic generated reports of EA to APS. Future research designed to evaluate the tool's validity and reliability are warranted.
Authors: Ruhee Shah; Alessandra Della Porta; Sherman Leung; Margaret Samuels-Kalow; Elizabeth M Schoenfeld; Lynne D Richardson; Michelle P Lin Journal: West J Emerg Med Date: 2021-10-27