Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30863026›Full record

ReviewClinical interventions in aging2019

Handling of informed consent and patient inclusion in research with geriatric trauma patients - a matter of protection or disrespect?

Jana S Jensen, Stella Reiter-Theil, Diana A Celio, Marcel Jakob, Werner Vach, Franziska J Saxer

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Clinical interventions in aging, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing 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

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. 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

6 authors.

Jana S JensenDepartment of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel 4031, Switzerland, franziska.saxer@usb.ch.
Stella Reiter-TheilDepartment of Clinical Ethics, University Hospital Basel/Psychiatric Hospitals of the University Basel, Basel 4012, Switzerland.
Diana A CelioDepartment for Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Triemli Hospital, Zürich 8063, Switzerland.
Marcel JakobDepartment of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel 4031, Switzerland, franziska.saxer@usb.ch.
Werner VachDepartment of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel 4031, Switzerland, franziska.saxer@usb.ch.
Franziska J SaxerDepartment of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel 4031, Switzerland, franziska.saxer@usb.ch.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite the aging of numerous societies and future health care challenges, clinical research in the elderly is underrepresented. The aim of this review was to analyze the current practice exemplary in gerontotraumatology and to discuss potential improvements. MATERIALS AND

methodsA literature review was performed in 2016 based on a PubMed search for gerontotraumatologic studies published between 2005 and 2015. Trials were evaluated for methodology and ethical and age-related aspects.

resultsThe search revealed 649 articles, 183 of which met the inclusion criteria. The age range for inclusion was heterogeneous; one-third of trials included patients <65 years and only 11% excluded very elderly. Seventy-four trials excluded patients with typical comorbidities, with 55% of these without stating scientific reasons. Frailty was assessed in 94 trials and defined as the exclusion criterion in 66 of them. Informed consent (IC) was reportedly obtained in 144 trials; descriptions of the IC process mostly remained vague. Substitute decision making was described in 19 trials; the consenting party remained unclear in 45 articles. Diagnosed dementia was a primary exclusion criterion in 31% of the trials. Seventeen trials assessed decisional capacity before inclusion, with six using specific assessments.

conclusionMany trials in gerontotraumatology exclude relevant subgroups of patients, and thus risk presenting biased estimates of the relevant treatment effects. Exclusion based on age, cognitive impairment, or other exhaustive exclusion criteria impedes specific scientific progress in the treatment of elderly patients. Meaningful trials could profit from a staged, transparent approach that fosters shared decision making. Rethinking current policies is indispensable to improve treatment and care of elderly trauma patients and to protect study participants and researchers alike.

Indexed as

Informed ConsentPatient SelectionWounds and InjuriesAgedAged, 80 and overClinical Trials as TopicHumansMental CompetencyMiddle AgedProxyclinical research ethicsdecisional capacitygerontotraumatologyinformed consentorthogeriatricsystematic review

Identifiers

PMID30863026
PMCPMC6388780

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Registered trials

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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.