Acceptability of Telemedicine in a Geriatric Outpatient Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Telemedicine utilization has increased dramatically during the COVID pandemic. Few studies have evaluated the use and acceptability of telemedicine in older populations. This study examined the use and acceptability of telemedicine with older adults in an urban, geriatric practice. Methods: An anonymous survey was sent to patients seen at an urban, geriatric practice using MyChart in EPIC in March 2021. This population of patients is 55 years and older, 50% Black, 40% white, 3% Latino, 3% Asian, and 4% other. This panel is comprised of 71% Medicare, 23% non-Medicare/non-Medicaid, and 6% Medicaid. The total panel of patients includes ∼1,400 patients. The percent of patients on MyChart at the time of the survey was 78%. Thus, about 1,092 patients received the survey. Results: Of the 1,092 patients who received the survey, 247 (22.6%) responded. Around 80.37% of respondents rated their overall experience with telemedicine as good or excellent. Theme areas emerged around the advantages and disadvantages of telemedicine. A majority (70.28%) of respondents rated themselves as Somewhat Confident to Very Confident in use of telemedicine without family/friend assistance. A majority (74.16%) of respondents stated they plan to use telemedicine again. Conclusions: This survey demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of telemedicine in an urban, geriatric population. A limit to this study is that the survey was administered on-line, so that participants may be biased regarding use of online technology. However, this study showed that the vast majority of older adults were confident in using telemedicine as an alternative to in-person visits during the COVID pandemic and plan on using it again.

Does Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Treatment Influence Patient Falls and Mobility? A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of irreversible blindness, increases fall risk through impaired central vision. Falls place an enormous economic burden on healthcare systems. We hypothesized that AMD treatments may reduce patients' falls risk. This systematic review (ID #: 172623) synthesized the current understanding of wet and dry AMD treatments' impact on patient falls and mobility, connecting these two public health issues. METHODS: On April 17, 2020, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were queried. Clinical trials and observational studies were included, while non-English and non-primary studies were excluded. Two authors screened, extracted data, and assessed bias using RoB-2 and ROBINS-I. A third author served as a tie breaker. RESULTS: This database search resulted in 3,525 studies, with an additional 112 identified through bibliography review. Ten articles met eligibility criteria. Most studies featured the outcome of interest as a secondary outcome (n = 4) and patient-reported adverse events (n = 5), rather than a primary focus (n = 2). Ten out of the 11 outcomes had a moderate to serious risk of bias. No two studies used the same instrument to measure falls or mobility. CONCLUSION: Despite the potential positive impact of AMD treatments on patient falls and mobility, quality data on this relationship are lacking. This work underscores the need to broaden ophthalmologic research outcomes beyond visual parameters to include patient-centred, functional measures. Incorporating standardized methods to track falls and screen for difficulty with walking and balance would enable evaluation of AMD treatments on functional outcomes, potentially helping guide management.

Prevalence of chronic disease in older adults in multitier eye-care facilities in South India: Electronic medical records-driven big data analytics report.

PURPOSE: To study the prevalence of systemic conditions in older adults, either self-reported or discovered during routine eye examinations, at multitier eye-care facilities over the past decade, and to explore their association with vision and common ocular disorders, including cataract, glaucoma, and retinopathy. METHODS: Retrospective review of a large data set compiled from the electronic medical records of patients older than 60 years who presented to an eye facility of a multitier ophthalmology network located in 200 different geographical locations that included urban and rural eye-care centers spread across four states in India over a 10-year period. RESULTS: 618,096 subjects aged 60 or older were identified as visiting an eye facility over the 10-year study period. The mean age of the study individuals was 67·28 (±6·14) years. A majority of older adults (66·96%) reported being free of systemic illnesses. Patients from lower socioeconomic status had a lower prevalence of chronic systemic disease, but the presenting vision was poorer. Hypertension (21·62%) and diabetes (18·77%) were the most commonly reported chronic conditions in patients who had concomitant systemic illness with visual concerns. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of chronic systemic illnesses in older adults presenting to multitier eye-care facilities is relatively low, except in those with diabetic retinopathy. These observations suggest a need to include active screening for common chronic diseases in standalone eye-care facilities to achieve a more accurate assessment of chronic disease burden in the older population.

Breast Cancer Screening Shared Decision-Making in Older African-American Women.

BACKGROUND: Discussions about whether to continue breast cancer screening in older women are complex, particularly for African American women. Decision aids may be helpful in guiding these conversations; however, little is known about the feasibility and acceptability of using breast cancer decision aids in older African American women. This study explored African American women's knowledge of breast cancer screening guidelines in older adults, prior conversations with providers regarding continuation of screening, and their understanding/willingness to engage in discussions about individualized breast cancer screening decision-making using two versions of tested decision aids. METHODS: Twenty-four African American women; (age m = 83) in urban geriatric practice. Interviews with African American women age 75+. Both DAs include age, health/functional status, and comorbidities questions to determine a BCS harms/benefit score. RESULTS: Most participants (75%) reported familiarity with current breast cancer screening guidelines. Twenty-nine percent reported prior discussions with providers about continuing breast cancer screenings. Sixty percent did not need assistance completing DAs while 40% did. 66.7% found the decision aids "very helpful" in reflecting their breast cancer screening thoughts; 58.3% had no preference regarding either decision aid version. 75% of participants were willing to complete the decision aid before a provider visit. Participants equally preferred a health educator or provider facilitating discussion of breast cancer screening harms and benefits and potential cessation. CONCLUSIONS: Older African American women are willing to engage in discussions about whether or not to continue breast cancer screening and found decision aids helpful.

Common Breast Problems.

Palpable breast masses, mastalgia, and nipple discharge are commonly encountered symptoms in outpatient practice, causing significant patient anxiety and precipitating medical consultation. The initial workup includes a detailed clinical history and physical examination. Women presenting with a breast mass will require imaging and further assessment to exclude cancer. Diagnostic mammography is usually preferred, but ultrasonography is more sensitive in women younger than 30 years. Any suspicious mass detected on physical examination, mammography, or ultrasonography should undergo biopsy. In most cases, a core needle biopsy should be performed with imaging guidance for evaluation of a suspicious mass. Mastalgia is usually not an indication of underlying malignancy. Oral contraceptives, hormone therapy, some psychotropic drugs, and some cardiovascular agents have been associated with mastalgia. Focal breast pain should be evaluated with diagnostic imaging. Targeted ultrasonography localized to discrete areas of the breast can be used alone to evaluate focal breast pain in women younger than 30 years, and as an adjunct to mammography in women 30 years and older. Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as diclofenac, are a first-line treatment option. The first step in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with nipple discharge is classification of the discharge as pathologic or physiologic. Nipple discharge is classified as pathologic if it is spontaneous, bloody, unilateral, or associated with a breast mass. Patients with pathologic discharge should undergo diagnostic imaging. Galactorrhea is the most common cause of physiologic discharge not associated with pregnancy or lactation. It occurs as a result of an endocrinopathy (hyperprolactinemia or thyroid dysfunction) or from the use of dopamine-inhibiting medications.

Learning to Lead: Reflections from the Tideswell-AGS-ADGAP Emerging Leaders in Aging Program Scholars.

The Tideswell Emerging Leaders in Aging (ELIA) Program is a 1-year leadership training program focused on developing a sustainable pipeline of leaders in aging who are poised to lead initiatives that will optimize the health of older people. The Tideswell ELIA Program is jointly administered by the American Geriatrics Society, the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs, and Tideswell at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), a program within the Division of Geriatrics at UCSF. The ELIA Program prepares early to midcareer healthcare professionals in aging (scholars) for their transition into key leadership roles that involve one or more areas of patient care, education, and research. The program emphasizes the understanding of one's own and others' inherent work strategies and communication styles as integral to leading programs. Approximately 15 ELIA scholars are selected annually to participate in this interactive leadership development program. We conducted a qualitative analysis of program evaluations from 2015 to 2018 scholars (n = 47) to determine effectiveness and impact. All scholars (100%) completed the end-of-training survey. Scholars' satisfaction with the program is high. Scholars reported heightened leadership development and improvements in leadership skills, including communication, team building, and self-awareness. Scholars also reported enhancement of personal leadership attributes that contributed to career advancement. The Tideswell ELIA Program accelerates scholars' personal career development, positively impacts their institutions, and ultimately benefits older people. Sustaining leadership programs such as the Tideswell ELIA Program is vital to ensure a continuous pipeline of leaders skilled in both advocating for and advancing the health of older Americans. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:434-436, 2019.

Primary Care Providers' Attitudes and Practices Regarding Cancer Screening in Older Adults.

Cancer screening decisions for older adults should be individualized. However, conducting such complex shared decisions may be challenging for primary care providers (PCPs). Additionally, there is little information about how PCPs make these decisions. This study consisted of a provider survey and chart review to assess current PCP approaches to breast and colorectal cancer (CRC) screening for patients ages ≥75 years. PCP survey questions: panel age, comfort with discussion of screening harms and benefits, screening decision-making process, and discussion style. One hundred charts were chosen from a random sample of male and female patients ages ≥75 with a recent office visit. Chart reviews assessed whether providers recommended screening for breast and/or CRC in patients ages ≥75, if there was a documented screening discussion, and if screening was completed. Fifty-one PCPs completed the survey. PCPs varied in the proportions of older adults they recommended for breast and CRC screening; 90.2% reported feeling very (43.1%) or somewhat (47.1%) comfortable discussing reasons for/against screening with older patients. Top screening considerations: life expectancy (84.3%), patient preference (82.4%), and severity of medical conditions (70.6%). Three-quarters (74.55%) reported a shared decision-making approach with discussion of harms/benefits. Of 61 eligible patients, 8 (13.1%) had a documented discussion regarding mammography; of 58 patients eligible for CRC screening, 7 (12.1%) had a documented discussion. Findings showed inconsistency in PCP approaches to cancer screening in older adults and in documentation of discussion. There is ample room for improvement in standardizing approaches and documentation of cancer screening discussions with older patients.

Identifying Older Patients at High Risk for Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalization.

Hospitalizations are costly, potentially hazardous for older patients, and sometimes preventable. With Medicare's implementation of hospital penalties for 30-day readmissions on certain index conditions, health care organizations have prioritized addressing those issues that lead to avoidable hospitalizations. Little is known about the utility and feasibility of using standardized tools to identify adults at risk for hospitalizations in primary care. In this study, the goal was to determine, from a sample of 60 adults aged 65 and older, whether the Probability of Repeat Admission (PRA), the Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13), or a provider estimate of likelihood of hospitalization could identify patients at high risk for emergency department (ED) visits or hospitalization at 6 and 12 months, while being feasible to administer in a primary care setting. PRA, VES-13, and provider estimate were administered in an outpatient practice. Number of ED visits and hospitalizations at 6 and 12 months were assessed through follow-up phone calls and chart review. PRA and provider estimate were not significant predictors of hospitalizations at 6 months (PRA odds ratio [OR] 1.95; P = 0.39; physician estimate OR 4.33, P = 0.08), but were at 12 months (PRA OR 6.00; P < 0.001; physician estimate OR 2.3; P < 0.05). Additionally, a hospitalization during the prior year was not a significant predictor of hospitalization at 6 months (OR 2.97; P = 0.15) but was at 12 months (OR 3.89, P < 0.05). No tool was a significant predictor of ED visits at either time. PRA and the physician estimate were easy to administer and feasible to implement in a primary care setting.

Preoperative Assessment in Older Adults: A Comprehensive Approach.

Surgical outcomes are significantly influenced by patients' overall health, function, and life expectancy. A comprehensive geriatric preoperative assessment of older adults requires expanding beyond an organ-based or disease-based assessment. At a preoperative visit, it is important to establish the patient's goals and preferences, and to determine whether the risks and benefits of surgery match these goals and preferences. These discussions should cover the possibility of resuscitation and ventilator support, prolonged rehabilitation, and loss of independence. The assessment should include evaluation of medical comorbidities, cognitive function, decision-making capacity, functional status, fall risk, frailty, nutritional status, and potentially inappropriate medication use. Problems identified in any of these key areas are associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications, institutionalization, functional decline, and, in some cases, mortality. If a patient elects to proceed with surgery, the risks should be communicated to surgical teams to allow for inpatient interventions that lower the risk of postoperative complications and functional decline, such as early mobilization and limiting medications that can cause delirium. Alcohol abuse and smoking are associated with increased rates of postoperative complications, and physicians should discuss cessation with patients before surgery. Physicians should also assess patients' social support systems because they are a critical component of discharge planning in this population and have been shown to predict 30-day postoperative morbidity.

Deprescribing: A simple method for reducing polypharmacy.

Polypharmacy brings with it increased risks for adverse drug events and reduced functional capacity. This 4-step plan will help you safely deprescribe in older adults.

Alcohol and other drug use in older adults: results from a community needs assessment.

BACKGROUND: With the "Baby Boomer" generation reaching older adulthood, substance abuse treatment providers find themselves needing to address the unique needs of this population. Heavy drinking in adults ages 65 and over is strongly correlated with depression, anxiety, decreased social support, and poor health. However, while alcohol misuse has been shown to be predictive of a lower quality of life in older adults, the generalizability of these findings to urban dwelling, lower socioeconomic status individuals remains unclear. AIMS: To identify potential treatment needs of this population, a city-funded needs assessment was conducted. METHODS: Subjects were 249 individuals (44% male) who voluntarily completed measures of quality of life (QOL), depression, and substance abuse. Measures used included the Psychological General Well-Being Schedule, the Geriatric Depression Scale-15, and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). RESULTS: Alcohol or substance abuse was reported by over 20% of respondents, with 3.4% of respondents engaged in maladaptive alcohol use. Scores on the AUDIT were predictive of increased depression (r = - .209, p = .01), anxiety (r = - .201, p = .002), lower general well-being (r = - .154, p = .019), and decreased self-control (r = - .157, p = .017). DISCUSSION: A substantial percentage of the sample reported alcohol and substance misuse. Alcohol use was predictive of depression, global psychological distress, and decreased quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: This needs assessment reinforces findings from previous studies and addresses the added dimension of examining this in an urban, lower socioeconomic population.

Cancer Screening in Older Patients.

Although cancer is the second leading cause of death among persons 65 years and older, there is a paucity of clinical trial data about the effectiveness and harms of cancer screening in this population. Given the heterogeneous nature of the older population, cancer screening in these patients should not be based on age alone. Studies suggest that a life expectancy of at least 10 years is necessary to derive a survival benefit from screening for breast and colorectal cancers; therefore, screening for these cancers is not recommended in those with a life expectancy of less than 10 years. Prostate cancer screening, if performed at all, should not be performed after 69 years of age. Cervical cancer screening may be stopped after 65 years of age if the patient has an adequate history of negative screening results. An individualized approach to cancer screening decisions involves estimating life expectancy, determining the potential benefits and harms of screenings, and weighing those benefits and harms in relation to the patient's values and preferences.

Health Literacy in Primary Care Practice.

Health literacy includes a set of skills needed to make appropriate health decisions and successfully navigate the health care system. These skills include reading, writing, numeracy, communication, and, increasingly, the use of electronic technology. National data indicate that more than one-third of U.S. adults have limited health literacy, which contributes to poor health outcomes and affects patient safety, and health care access and quality. Although there are a number of tools that screen for limited health literacy, they are primarily used for research. Routinely screening patients for health literacy has not been shown to improve outcomes and is not recommended. Instead, multiple professional organizations recommend using universal health literacy precautions to provide understandable and accessible information to all patients, regardless of their literacy or education levels. This includes avoiding medical jargon, breaking down information or instructions into small concrete steps, limiting the focus of a visit to three key points or tasks, and assessing for comprehension. Additionally, printed information should be written at or below a fifth- to sixth-grade reading level. Visual aids, graphs, or pictures can enhance patient understanding, as can more concrete presentation of numerical information.

Strategies to help reduce hospital readmissions.

The risk assessment tools, medication reconciliation steps, and discharge script provided here can help you keep your patients from going back into the hospital.

Clinical management of urinary incontinence in women.

Most cases of urinary incontinence in women fall under one of three major subtypes: urge, stress, or mixed. A stepped-care approach that advances from least invasive (behavioral modification) to more invasive (surgery) interventions is recommended. Bladder retraining and pelvic floor muscle exercises are first-line treatments for persons without cognitive impairment who present with urge incontinence. Neuromodulation devices, such as posterior tibial nerve stimulators, are an option for urge incontinence that does not respond to behavioral therapy. Pharmacologic therapy with anticholinergic medications is another option for treating urge incontinence if behavioral therapy is unsuccessful; however, because of adverse effects, these agents are not recommended in older adults. Other medication options for urge incontinence include mirabegron and onabotulinumtoxinA. Sacral nerve stimulators, which are surgically implanted, have also been shown to improve symptoms of urge incontinence. Pelvic floor muscle exercises are considered first-line treatment for stress incontinence. Noninvasive electrical and magnetic stimulation devices are also available. Alternatives for treating stress incontinence include vaginal inserts, such as pessaries, and urethral plugs. Limited or conflicting evidence exists for the use of medications for stress incontinence; no medications are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for this condition. Minimally invasive procedures, including radiofrequency denaturation of the urethra and injection of periurethral bulking agents, can be used if stress incontinence does not respond to less invasive treatments. Surgical interventions, such as sling and urethropexy procedures, should be reserved for stress incontinence that has not responded to other treatments.

Common breast problems.

A palpable mass, mastalgia, and nipple discharge are common breast symptoms for which patients seek medical attention. Patients should be evaluated initially with a detailed clinical history and physical examination. Most women presenting with a breast mass will require imaging and further workup to exclude cancer. Diagnostic mammography is usually the imaging study of choice, but ultrasonography is more sensitive in women younger than 30 years. Any suspicious mass that is detected on physical examination, mammography, or ultrasonography should be biopsied. Biopsy options include fine-needle aspiration, core needle biopsy, and excisional biopsy. Mastalgia is usually not an indication of underlying malignancy. Oral contraceptives, hormone therapy, psychotropic drugs, and some cardiovascular agents have been associated with mastalgia. Focal breast pain should be evaluated with diagnostic imaging. Targeted ultrasonography can be used alone to evaluate focal breast pain in women younger than 30 years, and as an adjunct to mammography in women 30 years and older. Treatment options include acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The first step in the diagnostic workup for patients with nipple discharge is classification of the discharge as pathologic or physiologic. Nipple discharge is classified as pathologic if it is spontaneous, bloody, unilateral, or associated with a breast mass. Patients with pathologic discharge should be referred to a surgeon. Galactorrhea is the most common cause of physiologic discharge not associated with pregnancy or lactation. Prolactin and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels should be checked in patients with galactorrhea.