ReviewInternational journal of emergency medicine2026
Enhancing emergency department experiences for older adults: a rapid review (2020-2025).
Review in International journal of emergency medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesOlder adults (65+) account for nearly a quarter of all emergency department (ED) visits, yet consistently report challenges in care experiences, including communication gaps, long wait times, and a lack of age-appropriate services. This systematic rapid review synthesizes recent evidence on ED interventions that improved older adults’ care experiences.
methodsWe conducted the review guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute convergent integrated approach. MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and AgeLine were searched (January 2020-July 2025). Eligible studies examined ED-based interventions for older adults ≥ 65 years and reported patient experience outcomes. Three reviewers independently screened, extracted, and appraised studies using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Findings were synthesized thematically across intervention domains.
resultsTen studies met the inclusion criteria (i.e., 5 quantitative, 2 mixed-methods, and 3 qualitative). Interventions included multidisciplinary geriatric teams, frailty-specific pathways, redesigned discharge tools, comfort carts, assistive devices, advance care planning, and elder mistreatment screening. Interventions improved satisfaction, dignity, independence, and perceptions of care quality across four countries (Australia, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United States of America). Frailty-focused programs and trauma-informed screening were broadly acceptable when framed respectfully. Structured communication redesigns and environmental modifications enhanced patient trust and comfort. Common limitations included small samples and single-site designs.
conclusionsEmbedding geriatric expertise, structured communication, environmental supports, and trauma-informed practices improves older adults’ perceptions of ED experiences. Future research should prioritize multi-site evaluations, cost-effectiveness, and integration of patient-reported experience measures into routine monitoring.
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