Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39212368›Full record

ArticlePrehospital emergency care2025

Elder Mistreatment Documentation by Prehospital Clinicians: An Analysis of the National Emergency Medical Services Information System Database.

David W Hancock, William Haussner, E-Shien Iggy Chang, Rana Barghout, Joshua Lachs, Kristin Lees Haggerty, Brad Cannell, Sharon Xuan Zhang, Brock Daniels, Michael Stern and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Prehospital emergency care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

12 authors.

David W HancockDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York.ORCID 0000-0003-3700-2731
William HaussnerFire Department City of New York, Long Island Jewish, New York, New York.ORCID 0000-0002-4463-2056
E-Shien Iggy ChangDepartment of Geriatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine/New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York.
Rana BarghoutDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York.
Joshua LachsDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York.
Kristin Lees HaggertyEducation Development Center, Waltham, Massachusetts.
Brad CannellDepartment of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health-Dallas Campus, Dallas, Texas.
Sharon Xuan ZhangDepartment of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health-Dallas Campus, Dallas, Texas.
Brock DanielsDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York.
Michael SternDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York.
Rahul SharmaDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York.
Tony RosenDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York.

Funding

The Weill Cornell Medicine Research Training Program in Behavioral GeriatricsT32AG049666 · NIA · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · PI SARA J CZAJA, Manney Carrington Reid · 2016 to 2026
$3.2M
Characterizing Elder Mistreatment Among Older Adults with DementiaK01AG076992 · NIA · EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER, INC. · PI Kristin LeesHaggerty · 2023 to 2026
$565k
The Impact of Differences in Backgrounds and Life Experiences on Resident-to-Resident Aggression in Long-Term Care Residents with DementiaK01AG081540 · NIA · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · PI E-Shien Chang · 2023 to 2026
$554k
NIA NIH HHS K01 AG076992NIA NIH HHS K01 AG081540
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesElder mistreatment (EM), encompassing abuse and neglect, is a significant public health issue, affecting up to 10% of community-dwelling older adults annually. Elder mistreatment is a growing concern with a higher prevalence in institutional settings and substantial associated healthcare costs. Prehospital clinicians (PHCs) such as emergency medical technicians and paramedics are uniquely positioned to detect and report EM during their interactions with older adults in their homes. The objective of the study is to describe the rate and characteristics of EM documented by PHCs using the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS) database.

methodsThis study analyzed data from NEMSIS, which includes standardized information about PHC emergency response encounters across the United States. In 2018, 22,532,890 activations were included from 9,599 agencies in 43 states and US territories. Elder mistreatment was identified using specific International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes related to EM. Demographic data, injury location, and associated physical findings were also examined.

resultsOut of 9,605,522 EMS encounters for patients aged ≥60, EM was coded in 1,765 encounters (0.02%). Most EM cases were listed as the cause of injury (64%), followed by the clinician's first impression (25.4%). Physical abuse was the most common type of mistreatment reported (20.8%), followed by sexual abuse (18.2%), neglect (9.7%), and psychological/emotional abuse (0.34%). The median age of patients with documented EM was 72, and 62.3% were female. The most common anatomic locations of injuries were the lower extremities, head, and upper extremities.

conclusionsDespite the high prevalence of EM, PHCs infrequently document EM in their encounters with older adults. Additional training and comprehensive protocols are needed to improve the identification and reporting of EM, mainly elder neglect. Empowering PHCs through education and protocol development can significantly impact the detection and intervention of EM.

Indexed as

DocumentationElder AbuseEmergency Medical ServicesAgedAged, 80 and overDatabases, FactualEmergency Medical TechniciansFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedUnited States

Identifiers

PMID39212368
PMCPMC11919792

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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.