Using Clinical Signs of Neglect to Identify Elder Neglect Cases

The Hypothesis 

The study's hypothesis is the use of clinical signs of neglect to identify elder neglect cases in healthcare settings. The tools utilized in determining neglect cases are suitable for community settings limiting clinical signs of neglect ( Friedman et al., 2017 ). This allegation implies a need to develop more efficient screening tools that can quickly identify neglect cases among the elderly. In this respect, the study attempts to offer a solution by implementing software programs to recognize potential neglect cases in a clinical setting. As a resolution, the research assesses the clinical signs of neglect scale (CSNS) built up for utilizing clinical data available in electronic health records (EHR), with the intention that software can be integrated for the efficiency of recognizing neglect cases among the elderly. 

Study Design 

The research utilizes an appropriate study design since it applies the DELPHI approach to examine the use of clinical signs of neglect to identify elderly neglect. The composition of a proper DELPHI method includes expertise diversity, panel members’ independence, aggregation, and decentralization ( Friedman et al., 2017 ). These keys illustrate that the research applied the appropriate design since participants included heterogeneous expert groups such as elderly mistreatment experts, nurses, and psychologists who provided information independently. The methods utilized for gathering information include an online survey, and at some point, participants contributed as a group. 

Inclusion/Exclusion 

The research utilizes an appropriate approach for inclusion and exclusion since it distinguishes between items for persons living in the community and those in long-term, intermediate, and acute care facilities. A consensus group met for discussing issues to be identified for inclusion and exclusion, and the resolution was that weights were to be generated independently ( Friedman et al., 2017 ). This decision facilitates distinctions of signs in a community and clinical settings considering that the available tools are not efficient for the acute health care setting. 

Reference

Friedman, L. S., Avila, S., Liu, E., Dixon, K., Patch, O., Partida, R., ... & Meltzer, W. (2017). Using clinical signs of neglect to identify elder neglect cases.  Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect ,  29 (4), 270-287.