Scholarlink

Objectives <p>Older 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.</p> Methods <p>We 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.</p> Results <p>Ten 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.</p> Conclusions <p>Embedding 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.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Enhancing emergency department experiences for older adults: a rapid review (2020–2025)

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月14日

查看全文
  • Jae-Yung Kwon,
  • Mariko Sakamoto,
  • Kayoung Lee,
  • Alyssa DeMedeiros,
  • Simrit Sandhu,
  • Kira Gossack-Keenan

摘要

Objectives

Older 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.

Methods

We 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.

Results

Ten 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.

Conclusions

Embedding 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.