@article{ref1,
title="National survey of geriatricians to define functional decline in elderly people with minor trauma",
journal="Canadian geriatrics journal",
year="2016",
author="Abdulaziz, Kasim E. and Perry, Jeffrey J. and Taljaard, Monica and Emond, Marcel and Lee, Jacques S. and Wilding, Laura and Sirois, Marie-Josée and Brehaut, Jamie",
volume="19",
number="1",
pages="2-8",
abstract="BACKGROUND: This study was designed to determine a clinically significant point drop in function to define functional decline and the required sensitivity for a clinical decision tool to identify elderly patients at high risk of functional decline following a minor injury. <br><br>METHODS: After a rigorous development process, a survey questionnaire was administered to a random sample of 178 geriatricians selected from those registered in a national medical directory. The surveys were distributed using a modified Dillman technique. <br><br>RESULTS: We obtained a satisfactory response rate of 70.5%. Ninety percent of the geriatricians required a sensitivity of 90% or less for a clinical decision tool to identify injured seniors at high risk of functional decline 6 months post injury. Our results indicate that 90% of the respondents considered a drop in function of at least 2 points in activities of daily living (ADL) as clinically significant when considering all 14 ADL items. Considering only the 7 basic ADL items, 90% of physicians considered a 1 point drop as clinically significant. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: A tool with a sensitivity of 90% to detect patients at risk of functional decline at 6 months post minor injury would meet or exceed the sensitivity required by 90% of geriatric specialists. These findings clearly define what is a clinically significant decline following a &quot;minor injury.&quot;<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1925-8348",
doi="10.5770/cgj.19.192",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5770/cgj.19.192"
}