Quality of Healthcare for Older Adults in England
Author Information
Author(s): Steel Nicholas, Bachmann Max, Maisey Susan, Shekelle Paul, Breeze Elizabeth, Marmot Michael, Melzer David
Primary Institution: University of East Anglia
Hypothesis
To assess the receipt of effective healthcare interventions in England by adults aged 50 or more with serious health conditions.
Conclusion
There are significant shortfalls in the receipt of recommended care for older adults in England, particularly for conditions associated with disability and frailty.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants were eligible for 19,082 items of indicated care.
- Receipt of indicated care varied substantially by condition.
- Overall, 62.3% of indicated care was achieved.
- Quality of care was better for general medical conditions than for geriatric conditions.
- Achievement rates were higher for conditions included in the UK general practice pay for performance contract.
Takeaway
This study looked at how well older people in England are getting the healthcare they need, and found that many are missing out on important treatments.
Methodology
National structured survey questionnaire with face-to-face interviews covering quality of care indicators.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data may lead to overestimation of care quality due to recall bias.
Limitations
The study only assessed a limited number of quality indicators and relied on self-reported data, which may not fully capture the quality of care received.
Participant Demographics
Participants were adults aged 50 or more, with a mean age of 66.8 years, and 55.1% were women.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% confidence interval 61.5% to 63.2%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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