Clinical pharmacist intervention to improve medication safety for hip fracture patients through secondary and primary care settings: a nonrandomised controlled trial.

Background: Hip fracture patients face a patient safety threat due to medication discrepancies and adverse drug reactions when they have a combination of high age, polypharmacy and several care transitions. Consequently, optimised pharmacotherapy through medication reviews and seamless communication of medication information between care settings is necessary. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the impact on medication management and pharmacotherapy.

Medication management for patients with hip fracture at a regional hospital and associated primary care units in Norway: a descriptive study based on a survey of clinicians' experience and a review of patient records.

Objective: Patients with hip fracture are at high risk of medication errors due to a combination of high age, comorbidities, polypharmacy and several care transitions after fracture. The aim was to study medication management tasks concerning patient safety: medication reconciliation, medication review and communication of key medication information in care transitions.

Design: Descriptive study comprising a self-administered clinician survey (MedHipPro-Q) and a retrospective review of hospital medical records of patients with hip fracture.

Impact of involvement of relatives in early home visits by a hospital-led geriatric team.

Objectives: To evaluate whether the involvement of relatives in home visits by a geriatric team post-discharge is associated with unplanned readmissions in severely frail patients living alone.

Methods: A quality improvement project evaluating outcomes from routine care of patients who were severely frail, 65+ years, living alone, and visited at home by a geriatric team after discharge from acute hospital admission. We compared patients who did and did not have relatives attending the visit.

Development and initial validation of MedHipPro-Q: a questionnaire assessing medication management of hip fracture patients in different care settings.

Background: A validated questionnaire to assess medication management of hip fracture patients within and outside the hospital setting was lacking. The study aims were to describe the hip fracture patient pathway, and develop a valid and feasible questionnaire to assess clinicians' experience with medication management of hip fracture patients in different care settings throughout the patient pathway.

Methods: This qualitative, descriptive methodological study used strategic and snowball sampling.

Delirium During Acute Events in Nursing Home Patients.

Objectives: Assess the frequency of delirium during any acute event, its risk factors, and the duration of delirium in nursing home patients.

Design: Prospective 2-month follow-up study.

Setting And Participants: 145 nursing home patients living in 3 Norwegian nursing homes.

Malnutrition Is Associated With Impaired Functional Status in Older People Receiving Home Care Nursing Service.

This study aimed to explore the magnitude and significance of associations among nutritional status, functional status, comorbidities, age, and gender in older adults receiving assistance from the in-home nursing care service. In this cross-sectional study, 210 home-dwelling persons 65 years or older who received in-home nursing care service were evaluated. Demographic variables, nutritional status, comorbidities, and the dependency levels of activities of daily living were analyzed.

Frailty among older patients receiving home care services.

Background: It is a policy objective for older people in need of care to be able to live at home for as long as possible and receive healthcare services outside of institutions. The degree of frailty in this group and consequent risk of emergency hospitalisation and death have not been widely studied. The objective of this project was to study these questions over a period of two years in a medium-sized Norwegian municipality.

Perioperative hemodynamics and risk for delirium and new onset dementia in hip fracture patients; A prospective follow-up study.

Background: Delirium is common in hip fracture patients and many risk factors have been identified. Controversy exists regarding the possible impact of intraoperative control of blood pressure upon acute (delirium) and long term (dementia) cognitive decline. We explored possible associations between perioperative hemodynamic changes, use of vasopressor drugs, risk of delirium and risk of new-onset dementia.

Delirium is a risk factor for further cognitive decline in cognitively impaired hip fracture patients.

Background: Delirium is a risk factor for dementia in cognitively intact patients. Whether an episode of delirium accelerates cognitive decline in patients with known dementia, is less explored.

Methods: This is a prospective follow-up study of 287 hip fracture patients with pre-fracture cognitive impairment.

Delirium is a risk factor for institutionalization and functional decline in older hip fracture patients.

Objectives: The risk of institutionalization and functional decline is substantial after a hip fracture. However, previous research has not established the extent to which delirium plays a contributory role.

Methods: Using a prospective design, we studied 207 hip fracture patients aged 65 and older, home-dwelling before the fracture.

Delirium is an important predictor of incident dementia among elderly hip fracture patients.

Background: Delirium is believed to constitute a risk factor for dementia, but previous research has failed to satisfactorily take account of the patients' preexisting level of cognitive functioning.

Methods: A prospective 6-month follow-up of 106 elderly hip fracture patients free from prefracture dementia. Delirium was assessed by the Confusion Assessment Method.

Delirium is not associated with mortality in elderly hip fracture patients.

Background: The relationship between delirium and mortality remains obscure. The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of delirium and the interaction between delirium and chronic cognitive impairment on mortality in elderly hip fracture patients.

Methods: This is a prospective observational study, including 331 hip fracture patients.

Medical treatment predicts mortality after hip fracture.

Background: The mortality after hip fracture has remained high and stable the past 50 years despite improved surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to identify medications and medical factors associated with mortality after hip fracture.

Methods: This is a prospective observational study with median observation time of 21 months.

Risk factors for preoperative and postoperative delirium in elderly patients with hip fracture.

Objectives: To evaluate risk factors for preoperative and postoperative delirium.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Departments of orthopedic surgery in two Norwegian hospitals.