Evidence map›Paper›PMID 24790423›Full record

ArticleClinical interventions in aging2014

Comprehension deficits among older patients in a quick diagnostic unit.

Lisa Nebelin Hvidt, Kristian Nebelin Hvidt, Kim Madsen, Thomas A Schmidt

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical interventions in aging, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Lisa Nebelin HvidtDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Holbæk University Hospital, Holbæk, Denmark ; Department of Geriatrics, Gentofte University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Kristian Nebelin HvidtDivision of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Holbæk University Hospital, Holbæk, Denmark.
Kim MadsenDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Holbæk University Hospital, Holbæk, Denmark.
Thomas A SchmidtDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Holbæk University Hospital, Holbæk, Denmark.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHigher prevalence of multiple illnesses and cognitive impairment among older patients pose a risk of comprehension difficulties, potentially leading to medication errors. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate comprehension of discharge instructions among older patients admitted to a Quick Diagnostic Unit (QDU).

methodsOne hundred and two patients discharged from the QDU answered a questionnaire covering understanding of their hospitalization and discharge plan. Patients' ability to recall discharge instructions and awareness of comprehension deficits, ie, ability to identify the misconceived information, were evaluated by comparing the questionnaires with the discharge letters. The population was divided into an older group (age ≥65 years) and a younger group.

resultsThe older group (n=40) was less able to recall correct medication instructions when compared to the younger group (54% versus 78%, respectively; P=0.02). In multiple logistic regression analysis, correct recall of medication instructions was 4.2 times higher for the younger group compared to the older group (odds ratio 4.2, 95% confidence interval 1.5-11.9, P=0.007) when adjusted for sex and education. The older patients were less aware of their own comprehension deficits, and in respect to medication instructions awareness decreased 6.1% for each additional year of age (odds ratio 0.939, 95% confidence interval 0.904-0.98, P=0.001) when adjusted for sex and education.

conclusionOlder patients were less able to recall correct medication instructions and less aware of their comprehension deficits after discharge from a QDU. The findings of the present study emphasize the importance of thorough communication and follow-up when treating older patients.

Indexed as

ComprehensionPatient DischargeAdultAgedAge FactorsAwarenessCognition DisordersCross-Sectional StudiesDrug TherapyFemaleHumansMaleMental RecallMiddle AgedSurveys and Questionnairescommunicationdischarge informationgeriatricsmedication

Identifiers

PMID24790423
PMCPMC3998857

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.