SMJ Article | Original Article

Exploring Communication about Fall Risk and Prevention between Internal Medicine Residents and Geriatric Patients: A Needs Assessment

Objectives: In the United States, falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries for geriatric patients. With a growing aging population, medical trainees must gain experience with geriatric assessments, including fall risk and prevention. To the authors’ knowledge, no prior studies have explored who most often initiates fall...

Posted in: Principles of the Geriatric Assessment1

SMJ Article | Original Article

Measures of Frailty in Homebound Older Adults

Objectives: Frailty, a geriatric syndrome associated with high morbidity and mortality, has rarely been assessed in homebound older adults. As such, we evaluated the prevalence of frailty among older adults enrolled in a home-based primary care program. b We measured frailty using the Fried Frailty Phenotype criteria of unintentional weight...

Posted in: Geriatric Syndromes5

SMJ Article | Original Article

Adapting Existing Resources for Serious Illness Communication Skills Training for Internal Medicine Residents

Objectives: Goals of care discussions are a vital component of patient care, but Internal Medicine residents receive limited training in these skills. Existing curricula often require simulated patients or faculty development, limiting implementation in many residency programs. Thus, we developed and implemented a curriculum leveraging existing educational resources with the...

Posted in: End-of-life and Palliative Care of the Elderly1

SMJ Article | Original Article

Implications of Frailty among Men with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

Objectives: Frailty is associated with adverse outcomes, but little is known of the impact of frailty on patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). This study sought to determine the prevalence of frailty, based on quantitative assessment, and assessed its potential impact on outcomes among community-dwelling men with ICDs. Methods: A...

Posted in: Other Primary Geriatric Topics2

SMJ Article | Original Article

Trauma Providers’ Perceptions of Frailty Assessment: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs

Objectives: Quality improvement in geriatric trauma depends on timely identification of frailty, yet little is known about providers’ knowledge and beliefs about frailty assessment. This study sought to understand trauma providers’ understanding, beliefs, and practices for frailty assessment. Methods: We developed a 20-question survey using the Health Belief Model of...

Posted in: Other Primary Geriatric Topics2
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