"You just have to be careful how you do it": A qualitative study of the Healthwise decision aid for older drivers.

OBJECTIVE: Decisions about driving retirement are difficult for older adults, their families, and health care providers. A large randomized trial found that an existing online Healthwise decision aid decreased decision conflict and increased knowledge about driving decisions. This study sought to discover how, when, and where the tool might be most effective for older drivers, their family members, and their health care providers. METHODS: We used one-on-one, semistructured interviews (June-December 2023) to explore perspectives on the content of the Healthwise online driving decision aid and its potential use. Participants were health care providers or subject matter experts in older driver research or policy. Transcribed interviews were coded and analyzed with a team-based approach to identify emerging themes. RESULTS: Across interviews (16 health care providers; 15 experts), emerging themes related to considerations (barriers, benefits, and settings for use) that were (1) individual or interpersonal or (2) institutional or cultural, as well as feedback on (3) decision aid content and structure. Findings included concerns over agism and damaging provider-patient relationships, along with identified benefits of integrating tools into electronic health records and a need for consolidated, easy-to-access resources for both providers and patients. CONCLUSION: Attention to individual, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural factors may enhance the use and dissemination of an online decision aid about driving, as well as its effectiveness in decision making. Future work should include views of additional stakeholders and studies on implementation of decision aids into real-world settings.

Alzheimer disease blood biomarkers: considerations for population-level use.

In the past 5 years, we have witnessed the first approved Alzheimer disease (AD) disease-modifying therapy and the development of blood-based biomarkers (BBMs) to aid the diagnosis of AD. For many reasons, including accessibility, invasiveness and cost, BBMs are more acceptable and feasible for patients than a lumbar puncture (for cerebrospinal fluid collection) or neuroimaging. However, many questions remain regarding how best to utilize BBMs at the population level. In this Review, we outline the factors that warrant consideration for the widespread implementation and interpretation of AD BBMs. To set the scene, we review the current use of biomarkers, including BBMs, in AD. We go on to describe the characteristics of typical patients with cognitive impairment in primary care, who often differ from the patient populations used in AD BBM research studies. We also consider factors that might affect the interpretation of BBM tests, such as comorbidities, sex and race or ethnicity. We conclude by discussing broader issues such as ethics, patient and provider preference, incidental findings and dealing with indeterminate results and imperfect accuracy in implementing BBMs at the population level.

Association Between Subjective Cognitive Decline and Twice-Weekly Muscle-Strengthening Activities in Middle-Aged and Older US Adults: An Analysis of the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

PURPOSE: Adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), the self-reported concern of reduced cognitive function, are recommended to do physical activity for its brain health benefits. US adults aged ≥45 with SCD are less likely to meet the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) aerobic activity recommendations. Their engagement in muscle-strengthening activities is unknown. We aimed to identify if US adults aged ≥45 with SCD are less likely to do twice-weekly muscle-strengthening activities compared to those without SCD. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data. SAMPLE: 114 164 respondents, representing approximately 59 million US adults aged ≥45. MEASURES: SCD was indicated if the respondent reported confusion or memory loss during the past 12 months (yes/no). Respondents reported the frequency of muscle-strengthening activities, which we categorized as meeting the ACSM's recommendations (2+ times per week) or not (<2 times per week). ANALYSIS: Crude and adjusted logistic regression models controlling for variables associated with SCD and muscle-strengthening activities. The models used sample weights to represent US adults in the included 31 states and Washington D.C. RESULTS: US adults aged ≥45 with SCD were less likely to do twice-weekly muscle-strengthening activities than those without SCD (28.6% [SE: .8%] vs 33.5% [SE: .3%], adjusted OR, .9; 95% CI: .9-1.0). CONCLUSION: Primary care providers should encourage middle-aged and older patients to engage in muscle-strengthening and aerobic activities.

Loneliness in older primary care patients and its relationship to physical and mental health-related quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Loneliness is a significant public health challenge in the United States, especially among older adults. The epidemiology of loneliness among older adults in primary care is lacking, and specific research is needed on how loneliness impacts older primary patients' physical, mental, and cognitive health. A large sample of older primary care patients were recruited for a trial during the COVID-19 pandemic to measure the relationship between loneliness and physical and mental quality of life (QOL). METHODS: Baseline data come from the Caregiver Outcomes of Alzheimer's Disease Screening (COADS) study, an ongoing randomized controlled trial evaluating benefits and risks of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias screening among primary care patients ages 65 and older, collected April 2020 to September 2021. Loneliness was measured with the 5-item, Loneliness Fixed Form Ages 18+ from The NIH Toolbox Emotion Battery, physical and mental health-related QOL was measured with the SF-36v2, and depression and anxiety severity were measured with the PHQ-9 and GAD-7, respectively. RESULTS: Spearman correlation analyses revealed that loneliness was moderately correlated with mental health QOL (r[601] = -0.43, p < 0.001), anxiety severity (r[601] = 0.44, p < 0.001), and depression severity (r[601] = 0.42, p < 0.001), while weakly correlated with physical health QOL (r[601] = -0.15, p < 0.001). After conducting unadjusted and adjusted linear regression models, we found that loneliness was significantly associated with both lower mental (p < 0.001) and physical (p < 0.001) QOL. Furthermore, loneliness remained significantly associated with worse mental QOL after adjusting for age, gender, race, ethnicity, educational level, perceived income status, neighborhood disadvantage, severity of comorbidities, and comorbid depression and anxiety. CONCLUSION: Primary care providers should discuss loneliness with their older adult patients and provide resources to help patients develop and maintain meaningful social relationships.

Relationship of Decisional Conflict About Driving Habits Between Older Adult Drivers and Their Family Members and Close Friends.

This study examines the relationship of decisional conflict about driving habits between older adult drivers (≥70 years old) and their family members and close friends. This secondary analysis utilizes data originating from a multi-site randomized controlled trial assessing the effect of a driving decision aid (DDA) intervention. Decisional conflict about stopping or changing driving habits for drivers was measured with the Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS). Dyadic associations between drivers' and study partners' (SPs') DCS scores were analyzed using an actor-partner interdependence model. Among 228 driver-SP dyads, Dyadic DCS was correlated at baseline (r = .18, p < .01), and pre-intervention DCS was associated with post-intervention DCS (p < .001 for SPs [ß = .73] and drivers [ß = .73]). Drivers' baseline DCS and SPs' post-intervention DCS were slighly correlated (ß = .10; p = .036). Higher decisional conflict about driving among older drivers is frequently shared by their SPs. Shared decisional conflict may persist beyond intervening to support decision-making about driving cessation.

The methodology of the Agile Nudge University.

Introduction: The Agile Nudge University is a National Institute on Aging-funded initiative to engineer a diverse, interdisciplinary network of scientists trained in Agile processes. Methods: Members of the network are trained and mentored in rapid, iterative, and adaptive problem-solving techniques to develop, implement, and disseminate evidence-based nudges capable of addressing health disparities and improving the care of people living with Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias (ADRD). Results: Each Agile Nudge University cohort completes a year-long online program, biweekly coaching and mentoring sessions, monthly group-based problem-solving sessions, and receives access to a five-day Bootcamp and the Agile Nudge Resource Library. Discussion: The Agile Nudge University is evaluated through participant feedback, competency surveys, and tracking of the funding, research awards, and promotions of participating scholars. The Agile Nudge University is compounding national innovation efforts in overcoming the gaps in the ADRD discovery-to-delivery translational cycle.

Relationship between health-related quality of life, depression, and anxiety in older primary care patients and their family members.

OBJECTIVES: Patient-family member dyads experience transitions through illness as an interdependent team. This study measures the association of depression, anxiety, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of older adult primary care patient-family member dyads. METHODS: Baseline data from 1,808 patient-family member dyads enrolled in a trial testing early detection of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in primary care. Actor-Partner Independence Model was used to analyze dyadic relationships between patients' and family members' depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and HRQOL (SF-36 Physical Component Summary score and Mental Component Summary score). RESULTS: Family member mean (SD) age is 64.2 (13) years; 32.2% male; 84.6% White; and 64.8% being the patient's spouse/partner. Patient mean (SD) age is 73.7 (5.7) years; 47% male; and 85.1% White. For HRQOL, there were significant actor effects for patient and family member depression alone and depression and anxiety together on their own HRQOL (p < 0.001). There were significant partner effects where family member depression combined with anxiety was associated with the patient's physical component summary score of the SF-36 (p = 0.010), and where the family member's anxiety alone was associated with the patient's mental component summary score of the SF-36 (p = 0.031). CONCLUSION: Results from this study reveal that many dyads experience covarying health status (e.g. depression, anxiety) even prior to entering a caregiving situation.

Biomarker disclosure protocols in prodromal Alzheimer's disease clinical trials.

INTRODUCTION: The development of biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) has allowed researchers to increase sample homogeneity and test candidate treatments earlier in the disease. The integration of biomarker "screening" criteria should be met with a parallel implementation of standardized methods to disclose biomarker testing results to research participants; however, the extent to which protocolized disclosure occurs in trials is unknown. METHODS: We reviewed the literature to identify prodromal AD trials published in the past 10 years. From these, we quantified the frequency of biomarker disclosure reporting and the depth of descriptions provided. RESULTS: Of 30 published trials using positron emission tomography or cerebrospinal fluid-based amyloid positivity as an eligibility criterion, only one mentioned disclosure, with no details on methods. DISCUSSION: Possible reasons for and implications of this information gap are discussed. Recommendations are provided for trialists considering biomarker screening as part of intervention trials focused on prodromal AD. HIGHLIGHTS: Few prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD) trial papers discuss biomarker disclosure. Disclosure has implications for participants, family members, and trial success. Disclosure must be consistently integrated and reported in prodromal AD trials. Best practice guidelines and training resources for disclosure are needed.

Mild Cognitive Impairment is Associated with Poorer Everyday Decision Making.

BACKGROUND: Older adults are faced with many unique and highly consequential decisions such as those related to finances, healthcare, and everyday functioning (e.g., driving cessation). Given the significant impact of these decisions on independence, wellbeing, and safety, an understanding of how cognitive impairment may impact decision making in older age is important. OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) on responses to a modified version of the Short Portable Assessment of Capacity for Everyday Decision making (SPACED). METHODS: Participants were community-dwelling, actively driving older adults (N = 301; M age = 77.1 years, SD = 5.1; 69.4% with a college degree or higher; 51.2% female; 95.3% White) enrolled in the Advancing Understanding of Transportation Options (AUTO) study. A generalized linear model adjusted for age, education, sex, randomization group, cognitive assessment method, and study site was used to examine the relationship between MCI status and decision making. RESULTS: MCI status was associated with poorer decision making; participants with MCI missed an average of 2.17 times more points on the SPACED than those without MCI (adjusted mean ratio: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.02, 4.61, p = 0.044). CONCLUSION: This finding supports the idea that older adults with MCI exhibit poorer decision-making abilities than cognitively normal older adults. It also suggests that older adults with MCI may exhibit poorer decision making across a wide range of decision contexts.

Expanding the use of brief cognitive assessments to detect suspected early-stage cognitive impairment in primary care.

INTRODUCTION: Mild cognitive impairment remains substantially underdiagnosed, especially in disadvantaged populations. Failure to diagnose deprives patients and families of the opportunity to treat reversible causes, make necessary life and lifestyle changes and receive disease-modifying treatments if caused by Alzheimer's disease. Primary care, as the entry point for most, plays a critical role in improving detection rates. METHODS: We convened a Work Group of national experts to develop consensus recommendations for policymakers and third-party payers on ways to increase the use of brief cognitive assessments (BCAs) in primary care. RESULTS: The group recommended three strategies to promote routine use of BCAs: providing primary care clinicians with suitable assessment tools; integrating BCAs into routine workflows; and crafting payment policies to encourage adoption of BCAs. DISSCUSSION: Sweeping changes and actions of multiple stakeholders are necessary to improve detection rates of mild cognitive impairment so that patients and families may benefit from timely interventions.

Cancer care for people with dementia: Literature overview and recommendations for practice and research.

As many countries experience population aging, patients with cancer are becoming older and have more preexisting comorbidities, which include prevalent, age-related, chronic conditions such as dementia. People living with dementia (PLWD) are vulnerable to health disparities, and dementia has high potential to complicate and adversely affect care and outcomes across the cancer trajectory. This report offers an overview of dementia and its prevalence among patients with cancer and a summary of the research literature examining cancer care for PLWD. The reviewed research indicates that PLWD are more likely to have cancer diagnosed at an advanced stage, receive no or less extensive cancer treatment, and have poorer survival after a cancer diagnosis. These cancer disparities do not necessarily signify inappropriately later diagnosis or lower treatment of people with dementia as a group, and they are arguably less feasible and appropriate targets for care optimization. The reviewed research indicates that PLWD also have an increased risk of cancer-related emergency presentations, lower quality processes of cancer-related decision making, accessibility-related barriers to cancer investigations and treatment, higher experienced treatment burden and higher caregiver burden for families, and undertreated cancer-related pain. The authors propose that optimal cancer care for PLWD should focus on proactively minimizing these risk areas and thus must be highly person-centered, with holistic decision making, individualized reasonable adjustments to practice, and strong inclusion and support of family carers. Comprehensive recommendations are made for clinical practice and future research to help clinicians and providers deliver best and equitable cancer care for PLWD and their families.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Older Primary Care Patients and Their Family Members.

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced mandatory stay-at-home orders and concerns about contracting a virus that impacted the physical and mental health of much of the world's population. This study compared the rates of depression and anxiety in a sample of older primary care patients (aged ≥65 years old) and their family members recruited for a clinical trial before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were dyads enrolled in the Caregiver Outcomes of Alzheimer's Disease Screening (COADS) trial, which included 1,809 dyads of older primary care patients and one of their family members. Mean scores on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7) were measured and compared before and during the pandemic. We found no difference in depression and anxiety among dyads of older primary care patients and their family members recruited before and during COVID-19. Additionally, we found that older primary care patients and family members who reported their income as comfortable had significantly lower depression and anxiety compared to those who reported having not enough to make ends meet. Along with this, older primary care patients with a high school education or less were more likely to have anxiety compared to those with a postgraduate degree. Moreover, our findings support the notion that certain demographics of older primary care patients and family members are at a higher risk for depression and anxiety, indicating who should be targeted for psychological health interventions that can be adapted during COVID-19. Future research should continue monitoring older primary care patients and their family members through the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Digital detection of dementia (D3): a study protocol for a pragmatic cluster-randomized trial examining the application of patient-reported outcomes and passive clinical decision support systems.

BACKGROUND: Early detection of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) in a primary care setting is challenging due to time constraints and stigma. The implementation of scalable, sustainable, and patient-driven processes may improve early detection of ADRD; however, there are competing approaches; information may be obtained either directly from a patient (e.g., through a questionnaire) or passively using electronic health record (EHR) data. In this study, we aim to identify the benefit of a combined approach using a pragmatic cluster-randomized clinical trial. METHODS: We have developed a Passive Digital Marker (PDM), based on machine learning algorithms applied to EHR data, and paired it with a patient-reported outcome (the Quick Dementia Rating Scale or QDRS) to rapidly share an identified risk of impairment to a patient's physician. Clinics in both south Florida and Indiana will be randomly assigned to one of three study arms: 1200 patients in each of the two populations will be administered either the PDM, the PDM with the QDRS, or neither, for a total of 7200 patients across all clinics and populations. Both incidence of ADRD diagnosis and acceptance into ADRD diagnostic work-up regimens is hypothesized to increase when patients are administered both the PDM and QDRS. Physicians performing the work-up regimens will be blind to the study arm of the patient. DISCUSSION: This study aims to test the accuracy and effectiveness of the two scalable approaches (PDM and QDRS) for the early detection of ADRD among older adults attending primary care practices. The data obtained in this study may lead to national early detection and management program for ADRD as an efficient and beneficial method of reducing the current and future burden of ADRD, as well as improving the annual rate of newly documented ADRD in primary care practices. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05231954 . Registered February 9, 2022.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Older Adult Driving in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To examine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected driving and health outcomes in older adults. METHODS: We compared Advancing Understanding of Transportation Options (AUTO) study participants enrolled before (December 2019 to March 2020) versus during the pandemic (May 2020 to June 2021). Participants were English-speaking, licensed drivers (≥70 years) who drove weekly and had a primary care provider at a study site and ≥1 medical condition potentially associated with driving cessation. We used baseline self-reported measures on mobility and health. RESULTS: Compared to those enrolled pre-COVID-19 (n = 61), more participants enrolled during COVID-19 (n = 240) reported driving reductions (26% vs. 70%, p < .001) and more often for personal preference (vs. medical/emotional reasons). While mean social isolation was higher during than pre-COVID-19, self-reported depression, stress, and overall health PROMIS scores did not differ significantly. DISCUSSION: Our findings highlight the resiliency of some older adults and have implications for mitigating the negative effects of driving cessation.

Development of Written Materials for Participants in an Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Screening Trial.

Given that participants' experiences in clinical trials include a variety of communication touchpoints with clinical trial staff, these communications should be designed in a way that enhances the participant experience by paying attention to the self-determination theoretical concepts of competence, autonomy, and relatedness. In this feature, we argue that clinical trial teams need to consider the importance of how they design their written participant communication materials, and we explain in detail the process our multidisciplinary team took to design written materials for the patient and family caregiver participants in our Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) screening trial. This article concludes with suggested guidance and steps for other clinical trial teams.

The Quick Dementia Rating System and Its Relationship to Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease and Neuropsychological Performance.

INTRODUCTION: The Quick Dementia Rating System (QDRS) is a brief, patient-reported dementia staging tool that has approximated scores on the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, no studies have examined its relationship with AD-related biomarkers. METHODS: One-hundred twenty-one older adults (intact, amnestic mild cognitive impairment, mild AD) completed the QDRS, and three biomarkers (amyloid deposition via positron emission tomography, hippocampal volume via magnetic resonance imaging, and apolipoprotein [APOE] ε4 status). RESULTS: The Total score on the QDRS was statistically significantly related to all three biomarkers (after controlling for age, education, sex, and race), with greater levels of dementia severity being associated with greater amyloid deposition, smaller hippocampi, and having copies of APOE ε4 allele. DISCUSSION: In participants across the cognitive spectrum, the QDRS showed modest relationships with amyloid deposition, hippocampal volumes, and APOE status. Therefore, the QDRS may offer a cost-effective screening method for clinical trials in AD.

"Is it time to stop driving?": A randomized clinical trial of an online decision aid for older drivers.

BACKGROUND: Many older adults face the difficult decision of when to stop driving. We sought to test whether an online driving decision aid (DDA) would improve decision quality. METHODS: This prospective two-arm randomized trial enrolled English-speaking licensed drivers (age ≥70 years) without significant cognitive impairment but with ≥1 diagnosis associated with increased likelihood of driving cessation; all participants received primary care in clinics associated with study sites in three states. The intervention was the online Healthwise® DDA for older adults addressing "Is it time to stop driving?"; control was web-based information for older drivers only. The primary outcome was decision conflict as estimated by the Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS; lower scores indicate higher quality). Secondary outcomes were knowledge and decision self-efficacy about driving decisions. We examined postrandomization differences in primary and secondary outcomes by study arm using generalized linear mixed-effects models with adjustment for site and prerandomization scores. RESULTS: Among 301 participants (mean age: 77.1 years), 51.2% identified as female and the majority as non-Hispanic (99.0%) and white (95.3%); 98.0% lived in an urban area. Participant characteristics were similar by study arm but differed across sites. Intervention participants had a lower mean DCS score (12.3 DDA vs 15.2 control; adjusted mean ratio [AMR] 0.76, 95%CI 0.61-0.95; p = 0.017). Intervention participants had higher mean knowledge scores (88.9 DDA vs. 79.9 control; OR 1.13, 95%CI 1.01-1.27, p = 0.038); there was no difference between groups in self-efficacy scores. The DDA had high acceptability; 86.9% of those who viewed it said they would recommend it to others in similar situations. CONCLUSIONS: The online Healthwise® DDA decreased decision conflict and increased knowledge in this sample of English-speaking, older adults without significant cognitive impairment, although most chose to continue driving. Use of such resources in clinical or community settings may support older adults as they transition from driving to other forms of mobility. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier "Advancing Understanding of Transportation Options (AUTO)" NCT04141891.

Age-specific rates of hospital transfers in long-stay nursing home residents.

INTRODUCTION: hospital transfers and admissions are critical events in the care of nursing home residents. We sought to determine hospital transfer rates at different ages. METHODS: a cohort of 1,187 long-stay nursing home residents who had participated in a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid demonstration project. We analysed the number of hospital transfers of the study participants recorded by the Minimum Data Set. Using a modern regression technique, we depicted the annual rate of hospital transfers as a smooth function of age. RESULTS: transfer rates declined with age in a nonlinear fashion. Rates were the highest among residents younger than 60 years of age (1.30-2.15 transfers per year), relatively stable between 60 and 80 (1.17-1.30 transfers per year) and lower in those older than 80 (0.77-1.17 transfers per year). Factors associated with increased risk of transfers included prior diagnoses of hip fracture (annual incidence rate ratio or IRR: 2.057, 95% confidence interval (CI): [1.240, 3.412]), dialysis (IRR: 1.717, 95% CI: [1.313, 2.246]), urinary tract infection (IRR: 1.755, 95% CI: [1.361, 2.264]), pneumonia (IRR: 1.501, 95% CI: [1.072, 2.104]), daily pain (IRR: 1.297, 95% CI: [1.055,1.594]), anaemia (IRR: 1.229, 95% CI [1.068, 1.414]) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (IRR: 1.168, 95% CI: [1.010,1.352]). Transfer rates were lower in residents who had orders reflecting preferences for comfort care (IRR: 0.79, 95% CI: [0.665, 0.936]). DISCUSSION: younger nursing home residents may require specialised interventions to reduce hospital transfers; declining transfer rates with the oldest age groups may reflect preferences for comfort-focused care.

Facility and resident characteristics associated with variation in nursing home transfers: evidence from the OPTIMISTIC demonstration project.

BACKGROUND: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) funded demonstration project to evaluate financial incentives for nursing facilities providing care for 6 clinical conditions to reduce potentially avoidable hospitalizations (PAHs). The Optimizing Patient Transfers, Impacting Medical Quality, and Improving Symptoms: Transforming Institutional Care (OPTIMISTIC) site tested payment incentives alone and in combination with the successful nurse-led OPTIMISTIC clinical model. Our objective was to identify facility and resident characteristics associated with transfers, including financial incentives with or without the clinical model. METHODS: This was a longitudinal analysis from April 2017 to June 2018 of transfers among nursing home residents in 40 nursing facilities, 17 had the full clinical + payment model (1726 residents) and 23 had payment only model (2142 residents). Using CMS claims data, the Minimum Data Set, and Nursing Home Compare, multilevel logit models estimated the likelihood of all-cause transfers and PAHs (based on CMS claims data and ICD-codes) associated with facility and resident characteristics. RESULTS: The clinical + payment model was associated with 4.1 percentage points (pps) lower risk of all-cause transfers (95% confidence interval [CI] - 6.2 to - 2.1). Characteristics associated with lower PAH risk included residents aged 95+ years (- 2.4 pps; 95% CI - 3.8 to - 1.1), Medicare-Medicaid dual-eligibility (- 2.5 pps; 95% CI - 3.3 to - 1.7), advanced and moderate cognitive impairment (- 3.3 pps; 95% CI - 4.4 to - 2.1; - 1.2 pps; 95% CI - 2.2 to - 0.2). Changes in Health, End-stage disease and Symptoms and Signs (CHESS) score above most stable (CHESS score 4) increased the risk of PAH by 7.3 pps (95% CI 1.5 to 13.1). CONCLUSIONS: Multiple resident and facility characteristics are associated with transfers. Facilities with the clinical + payment model demonstrated lower risk of all-cause transfers compared to those with payment only, but not for PAHs.

The Advancing Understanding of Transportation Options (AUTO) study: design and methods of a multi-center study of decision aid for older drivers.

BACKGROUND: Decision-making about when to stop driving for older adults involves assessment of driving risk, availability of support or resources, and strong emotions about loss of independence. Although the risk of being involved in a fatal crash increases with age, driving cessation can negatively impact an older adult's health and well-being. Decision aids can enhance the decision-making process by increasing knowledge of the risks and benefits of driving cessation and improve decision quality. The impact of decision aids regarding driving cessation for older adults is unknown. METHODS: The Advancing Understanding of Transportation Options (AUTO) study is a multi-site, two-armed randomized controlled trial that will test the impact of a decision aid on older adults' decisions about changes in driving behaviors and cessation. AUTO will enroll 300 drivers age ≥ 70 years with a study partner (identified by each driver); the dyads will be randomized into two groups (n = 150/group). The decision aid group will view the web-based decision aid created by Healthwise at baseline and the control group will review information about driving that does not include evidence-based elements on risks and benefits and values clarification about driving decisions. The AUTO trial will compare the effect of the decision aid, versus control, on a) immediate decision quality (measured by the Decisional Conflict Scale; primary outcome); b) longitudinal psychosocial outcomes at 12 and 24 months (secondary outcomes); and c) longitudinal driving behaviors (including reduction or cessation) at 12 and 24 months (secondary outcomes). Planned stratified analyses will examine the effects in subgroups defined by cognitive function, decisional capacity, and readiness to stop driving. DISCUSSION: The AUTO study is the first large-scale randomized trial of a driving decision aid for older adults. Results from this study will directly inform clinical practice about how best to support older adults in decision-making about driving. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov : NCT04141891 . Registered on October 28, 2019. Located at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04141891.