Clinical Research Directory

Improving Care for Frail Older Adults Using a Digital Needs Assessment Tool

The goal of this trial is to evaluate whether a digital needs-assessment tool can improve care planning and outcomes for frail older adults (aged 60 years and above) hospitalized in Singapore. The tool is designed to identify patients' health and social service needs and support better care coordination after hospital discharge. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the use of a digital needs-assessment tool improve the identification and management of health and social service needs in frail older adults? * Does this approach improve patient outcomes, such as quality of life, care satisfaction, and healthcare utilization after discharge? Participants will: * Respond to a baseline questionnaire * Receive a personalized care plan based on identified needs by the tool * Be followed up at 1 month and 3 months after discharge through surveys * Some participants will receive additional follow-up phone calls to review care needs and service use * A subset of participants will take part in interviews to share their care experiences

Aging, Geriatric Syndromes and Clonal Hematopoiesis

In this study the investigators will incorporate a wide range of clinical variables associated with aging and cardiovascular disease to determine whether they are associated with mutation status independent of chronologic age. Clinically, aging can be operationalized using geriatric assessment, which entails a comprehensive multi-dimensional assessment of the health of an older adult, including measures of comorbidity, polypharmacy, functional status, cognition, depression, falls, social activities and social support. Given that aging is heterogeneous, geriatric assessment allows greater specificity for aging than chronological age alone.

EFFECT OF ANIMATION-BASED DIGITAL EDUCATION ON RISK KNOWLEDGE AND FRAILTY IN OLDER ADULTS

With the global aging trend, the management of geriatric risks faced by older adults and the effectiveness of health education for this population are gaining increasing importance. Literature indicates that health education for older adults, when delivered through methods that support individual engagement and the use of digital tools, yields more effective results in terms of learning and behavior change. This doctoral study aims to evaluate the effect of a digital education model, structured based on the Health Belief Model and developed using branching scenario animation technique, on geriatric risk knowledge level and frailty status among older adults residing in nursing homes. The study will be conducted as a randomized controlled trial in three nursing homes in Istanbul, with measurements at baseline (T0), immediately post-intervention (T1), 1-month follow-up (T2), and 3-month follow-up (T3). Based on power analysis, 66 participants will be randomly assigned to intervention and control groups (33 per group) using block randomization. The intervention group will receive scenario-based digital animation education developed on the Vyond platform and structured according to the theoretical components of the Health Belief Model. The control group will receive standard care during the study period and will be offered the same digital animation education after completion of all assessments (post 3-month follow-up). The primary outcome is geriatric risk knowledge level, assessed using an interactive digital game called "Knowledge Wheel." Secondary outcomes include frailty status, measured by the Edmonton Frail Scale, and technology acceptance. Changes in knowledge and frailty levels measured through assessment tools will reveal the short- and medium-term effects of the education. Thus, the model's impact on health-related behavior change in older adults will be comprehensively evaluated. The unique aspect of this study is that it will be one of the first experimental studies to implement an interactive scenario-based digital education model in older adults. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of age-friendly health education models.

Using Virtual Reality to Improve Medical Training

As the U.S. population ages, future physicians must be prepared to care for older adults with multiple health conditions and complex needs. This study will test whether cinematic virtual reality (VR)-an immersive, interactive learning tool-is more effective than traditional lectures in helping medical students learn about geriatric care. Students who complete the VR training will experience realistic patient scenarios that show what can go wrong in medical care and learn how to apply osteopathic principles to improve outcomes. Researchers will compare students' performance on a clinical skills assessment and explore their experiences with the VR training. The goal is to determine whether cinematic virtual reality can better prepare students for residency and improve their ability to provide compassionate, high-quality care for older adults.

Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in Primary Care

This study evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of implementing the electronic Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (eCGA) in primary care for adults aged 65 years and older. The study examines how frailty changes over 12 months, how patient self-assessments compare with physician assessments, and how patients perceive the value of the eCGA when used as part of routine care. The study also includes an interventional randomized sub-study (PAHA), in which eligible participants receive a personalized physical activity program developed by a Clinical Exercise Physiologist. Participants are randomized to either an immediate-start or delayed-start exercise group, allowing assessment of the effects of a tailored activity intervention on frailty, physical activity participation, and goal attainment. Findings will inform how eCGA tools and personalized activity interventions can be integrated into primary care to support healthy aging and frailty management.